Tell anyone back in October that in March the Milwaukee Bucks would contend with the defending champion Warriors and many would have predicted this as “game of the season” material. Golden State’s season has not gone according to plan at all while Milwaukee has soared.

The experts have set the NBA odds with Golden State as the slimmest of favourites: -1.

Bucks vs. Warriors NBA Betting Odds

They say that homecourt means the world in basketball. Rarely is that a truer statement than when strong sides go head-to-head. Look no further than the tête-à-têtes between the Warriors and Bucks. A road team hasn’t claimed victory since January 2020 when Milwaukee won in San Francisco. Of note, none of the five games since then have been closer than 13 points.

Regular business practices have resumed in Wisconsin. After the shock defeat to Philadelphia a week ago, the Bucks have rattled off three consecutive victories to cushion their lead atop the Eastern Conference standings. They have not been quite as efficient versus spreads, going only 6-4 in their previous 10 despite the outright win-loss tally of 9-1. The club has won nine straight on the road, although none of the opponents are quite as ruthless when playing at home as Golden State.

How many times are we going to write the same thing? One supposes for as long as the Warriors keep doing the same thing. It’s not us, it’s them. The defending champs are suffering a three-game slump which has sunk them back down to seventh in the West. You guessed it. All those defeats were when travelling. The last 12 spreads have gone the way of the final scores: wins have seen Golden State cover and defeats saw them fail to do so.

Milwaukee Bucks

Not all wins develop in an equal manner. The Brooklyn Nets, who have been playing some very good basketball lately, gave the Bucks quite the scare on Thursday night in Milwaukee despite the hosts racing out to a big lead.

Mike Budenholzer was forced to sit out Giannis Antetokounmpo for his star to finish nursing a hand injury (his’s still Day-to-Day), meaning the rest of the crew would need to handle business. Then again, the Milwaukee Bucks are one of the deepest teams in the league and it showed in the face of Brooklyn’s notable comeback effort. Brook Lopez broke his own record for blocks in a match with nine, and Bobby Portis took advantage of the spotlight to shine brightly with a team-leading 28 points. On a night when shooting wasn’t excellent (38.0 per cent), rebounding proved critical, with Milwaukee winning the battle 61-47 and the game 118-113.

Golden State Warriors

Golden State was given a little dose of adversity on Thursday night in Memphis. Not to dwell too much on interpersonal rivalries, but so was Draymond Green, who has some serious beef with the Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks.

Neither club likes the other very much, and those two players can’t seem to stand each other, making the contest a mouth-watering proposition. The actual game was a disaster for the Warriors. At the very least, Golden State didn’t simply roll over after trailing 48-28 in the first quarter. Stephen Curry looked like his old self, scoring 29 points, including a couple of hypnotizing three-pointers. Other than Curry, who was a +2, everyone else was a liability on defence, allowing current Grizzlies point guard Tyus Jones to dish 11 assists. A decent third quarter was not enough to even make the final score look respectable, as Memphis pounded Golden State 131-110.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Bucks vs. Warriors?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bucks Team Leaders

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.1
Assists	Jrue Holiday 7.39
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.78
FG%	Giannis Antetokounmpo 55.3
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.18
Blocks	Brook Lopez 2.47

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 29.43
Assists	Draymond Green 6.85
Rebounds	Kevon Looney 9.27
FG%	Kevon Looney 63
Steals	Donte DiVincenzo 1.35
Blocks	Draymond Green 0.82

MIL

Points	Khris Middleton 23.8
Assists	Jrue Holiday 8
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11
FG%	MarJon Beauchamp 66.7
Steals	Brook Lopez 1.4
Blocks	Brook Lopez 1.8

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 30.46
Assists	Draymond Green 6.83
Rebounds	Kevon Looney 13.08
FG%	Kevon Looney 57.8
Steals	Draymond Green 1.5
Blocks	Andrew Wiggins 1.15

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Warriors Team Leaders

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.1
Assists	Jrue Holiday 7.39
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.78
FG%	Giannis Antetokounmpo 55.3
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.18
Blocks	Brook Lopez 2.47

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 29.43
Assists	Draymond Green 6.85
Rebounds	Kevon Looney 9.27
FG%	Kevon Looney 63
Steals	Donte DiVincenzo 1.35
Blocks	Draymond Green 0.82

MIL

Points	Khris Middleton 23.8
Assists	Jrue Holiday 8
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11
FG%	MarJon Beauchamp 66.7
Steals	Brook Lopez 1.4
Blocks	Brook Lopez 1.8

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 30.46
Assists	Draymond Green 6.83
Rebounds	Kevon Looney 13.08
FG%	Kevon Looney 57.8
Steals	Draymond Green 1.5
Blocks	Andrew Wiggins 1.15

Injuries

Milwaukee

Wesley Matthews (SG)

Prob Wed Calf - 18 / 04 / 23

Brook Lopez (C)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

AJ Green (PG)

Ques Wed Foot - 07 / 04 / 23

Brook Lopez (C)

Out Fri Rest - 06 / 04 / 23

Pat Connaughton (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 04 / 04 / 23

Grayson Allen (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23

Jevon Carter (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 03 / 04 / 23

Khris Middleton (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 03 / 04 / 23

Grayson Allen (SG)

Ques Tues Ankle - 02 / 04 / 23

Thanasis Antetokounmpo (SF)

Elig Tues Suspension - 01 / 04 / 23

Golden State

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Ques Fri Ribs - 11 / 05 / 23

Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF)

Ques Fri Toe - 07 / 05 / 23

Kevon Looney (PF)

Prob Thurs Illness - 04 / 05 / 23

Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF)

Prob Sat Toe - 28 / 04 / 23

Jordan Poole (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23

Draymond Green (PF)

Elig Sun Suspension - 19 / 04 / 23

Jordan Poole (SG)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 19 / 04 / 23

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Prob Thurs Shoulder - 19 / 04 / 23

Jordan Poole (SG)

Ques Mon Ankle - 16 / 04 / 23

Stephen Curry (PG)

Prob Sun Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Milwaukee

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Wesley Matthews (SG)	Prob Wed	Calf - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	4-0	+ -
Matthews is dealing with a right calf strain, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Brook Lopez (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-5	6-0	+ -
Lopez will be out of the lineup Sunday against the Raptors as he is taking a rest day.
AJ Green (PG)	Ques Wed	Foot - 07 / 04 / 23	2-5	6-1	+ -
Green is tending to right foot soreness, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat.
Brook Lopez (C)	Out Fri	Rest - 06 / 04 / 23	2-5	6-1	+ -
Lopez was not be active for Friday's clash with the Grizzlies as he will receive a day of rest.
Pat Connaughton (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 04 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Connaughton is hampered by a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will take the court against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Grayson Allen (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Allen is nursing a right ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the Heat.
Jevon Carter (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Carter missed the previous game with left knee soreness, but it is expected that he will line up for Wednesday's clash versus the Bulls.
Khris Middleton (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Middleton is limited due to right knee soreness, but it is anticipated that he will line up against the Heat for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Grayson Allen (SG)	Ques Tues	Ankle - 02 / 04 / 23	3-7	8-2	+ -
Allen exited the previous contest with a right ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up against the Wizards in Tuesday's clash.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo (SF)	Elig Tues	Suspension - 01 / 04 / 23	3-7	8-2	+ -
Antetokounmpo is going through a one-game suspension for an on-court incident, and he will be eligible to return against the Wizards on Tuesday.

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Ques Fri	Ribs - 11 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Wiggins is dealing with a left costal cartilage fracture, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF)	Ques Fri	Toe - 07 / 05 / 23	2-2	2-2	+ -
Baldwin Jr. missed the previous two games with left toe soreness, and it is up in the air if he will play in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Lakers.
Kevon Looney (PF)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 04 / 05 / 23	2-3	3-2	+ -
Looney is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to impact his status versus the Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF)	Prob Sat	Toe - 28 / 04 / 23	4-4	4-4	+ -
Baldwin Jr. is managing left toe soreness, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Lakers.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23	5-5	5-5	+ -
Poole is expected to suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Kings despite a left ankle sprain.
Draymond Green (PF)	Elig Sun	Suspension - 19 / 04 / 23	5-6	5-6	+ -
Green has been handed a one-game suspension for stepping on an opponent's chest, but he is expected to return to the court in time for Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Kings.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 19 / 04 / 23	5-6	5-6	+ -
Poole is tending to a left ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will dress for Game 3 with the Kings in the Western Conference first round.
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Prob Thurs	Shoulder - 19 / 04 / 23	5-6	5-6	+ -
Wiggins is nursing right shoulder soreness, but it is not expected to affect his status against the Kings in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 16 / 04 / 23	6-7	7-6	+ -
Poole is tending to a left ankle sprain, leaving his status for Game 2 of the Western Conference first round versus the Kings up in the air.
Stephen Curry (PG)	Prob Sun	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	8-7	8-7	+ -
Curry is dealing with a right hip contusion, but it is predicted that he will lace up versus the Trail Blazers on Sunday.