Bucks Visit Clippers in Battle of Top Four Championship Contenders as 3.5-Point Favorite
By Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball
Updated: April 6, 2020 at 11:02 am EDTPublished:
- The Milwaukee Bucks clash with the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday Night (10:00 PM ET, Nov. 6)
- Kawhi Leonard won’t play for the Clips as part of his load management schedule
- The Clippers are 4-0 at home, while the Bucks have won three straight games by 10 or more points
It was supposed to be one of the most anticipated matchups of the early season, but instead the Bucks versus Clippers tilt on Wednesday will be just another game on the NBA schedule.
Kawhi Leonard is out tomorrow vs. the Bucks due to load management. pic.twitter.com/0XX2T9FBFz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 6, 2019
That’s because Kawhi Leonard will sit out LA’s first game of a back-to-back set as part of his load management schedule. Leonard’s lack of availability robs basketball fans of a potential NBA Finals preview, and drastically affects the Bucks vs Clippers odds.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Los Angeles Clippers Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | -165 | -3.5 (-110) | O 226 (-110) |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +145 | +3.5 (-110) | U 226 (-110) |
Odds taken Nov. 5.
The Clips opened as a short 1-point favorite under the assumption that Kawhi would play, but as soon as he was announced out, the line jumped to Bucks -3.5. Both teams are top four NBA Championship contenders, and Milwaukee is certainly playing like the team to beat in the East.
Fear the Deer
After an up and down first four games, the Bucks have settled into a nice groove reeling off three straight double digit wins. Milwaukee started their streak with a 32-point thrashing of the Magic, then followed that up with a 10-point win over the reigning champs and a 28-point rout of the T-Wolves.
Three in a row!!#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/gxiJ0BsFQM
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 5, 2019
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way versus Minnesota with a video game stat line of 34 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists, and was recently named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He has six double-doubles and a triple-double in seven games this season, putting him squarely in the early MVP conversation.
NBA Players of the Week for Week 2!@Giannis_An34 of the @Bucks (East)@AntDavis23 of the @Lakers (West) pic.twitter.com/L8mw7QmiHj
— NBA (@NBA) November 4, 2019
A year after leading the league in scoring, Milwaukee is averaging an NBA best 121.3 points per game and rank first in field goal percentage, made field goals and rebounds. They’re a nightmare matchup for any team, and with Kawhi sitting out, Giannis and company should impose their will on the shorthanded Clips.
Take a Load off Kawhi
Wednesday will mark the second game this season Kawhi will miss due to rest. LA dropped its first outing without Leonard 111-96 to the Jazz, and allowed Utah to shoot its second highest field goal percentage of the season.
Let’s see… Paul George is listed as out and Kawhi Leonard reportedly won’t play cuz of rest. Wednesday shaping up nicely for @Bucks on road facing @Clippers. #FearTheDeer #GetterDone
— Craig Coshun (@CraigCoshun) November 6, 2019
The Clippers are already without Paul George, who hasn’t played all season, and will be forced to rely heavily on Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell to shoulder the offensive load. Outside of Kawhi, Williams and Harrell are the only two Clippers who average over 10.3 points per game, and if that’s your one-two punch you’re in big trouble against the Bucks.
It’s a shame fans won’t get to see Kawhi square off with Giannis, because as impressive as the Greek Freak has been, Leonard has played nearly as well. He’s dropped 30 or more in four of six games and is averaging a career high 5.7 assists. He ranks fourth in scoring, and sixth in steals, but without him and George, there’s just not enough talent to keep up with Milwaukee.
Back the Bucks
This is shaping up to be another lopsided win for the Bucks. They’re 5-2 against the spread this season, with four victories of 10 or more points already this season. Interestingly enough, the over has hit in just three of their first seven games, and if we expect the Clips to struggle offensively without Leonard and George, the under is definitely in play.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
