Bucks vs Lakers Picks & Odds (Feb. 9)
- The LA Lakers are 5.5-point home underdogs when they host the Milwaukee Bucks
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is on the injury report but probable to play
- Read below for the Bucks vs Lakers preview with odds and prediction
The scoring chase is over, leaving LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (25-30, 13-13 home) back to the business of trying to get into the playoff picture.
It won’t be easy, as the red-hot Milwaukee Bucks (37-17, 14-12 away) come to town. The Bucks have ripped off eight straight wins and will be well rested for the second and final matchup this season. LA took the first meeting 133-129 in early December.
It all gets underway Thursday (Feb 9) at 10pm ET from crypto.com Arena. You can watch the game live on TNT.
The NBA odds have the visiting Bucks as 5.5-point road favorites, with -250 odds on the moneyline.
Bucks vs Lakers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | -5.5 (-110) | -250 | OFF |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +5.5 (-110) | +205 | OFF |
Odds as of Feb 8 at FanDuel. Claim the FanDuel promo code to bet on the Bucks vs Lakers game.
A couple of key injury updates in this one: Giannis showed up on the injury report with knee soreness, though he is listed as probable. Brook Lopez (illness) is also probable, but Joe Ingles (rest) and Bobby Portis (knee) are out.
LA also struck a deal Wednesday, moving Russell Westbrook in a three-team trade that landed them D’Angelo Russell, Jared Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley (their status vs Milwaukee was not known at the time of publishing).
LeBron tweaked his ankle on his historic night, and is listed as questionable, while Anthony Davis (foot) is probable.
Milwaukee Betting Analysis
Milwaukee hasn’t played since Monday, when they kicked off a 3-game swing out west with a 127-108 thumping of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Giannis finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in a tidy 23 minutes of work. Lopez led the team in scoring with 27 points and nine boards, while Jrue Holiday potted 20 with eight dimes.
Highlights from last night's WIN vs. Blazers.
⚡️ @we_energies ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/U2g7AgO4zp
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 7, 2023
Khris Middleton continues to build up strength during this stretch run, with 13 points and five assists off the bench. Since he’s returned from injury on Jan 23, the Bucks have yet to lose a game.
A team that averages 114.5 points per game (13th), Milwaukee has been scorching during this streak, putting up 126.6 per night on 50.3% shooting and a crisp 37.8% from three-point range.
On the year, the Bucks are seventh in defensive scoring, holding teams to 111.8 points per game. They rank second in both field goal (45.3%) and three-point shooting defense (34.6%).
Los Angeles Betting Analysis
James hit the needed 36 points to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring mark late in the third quarter. The long in-game ceremony and the emotional high crashed the King, though, who finished with 38 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a 133-130 loss to the OKC Thunder.
Anthony Davis was lifeless Tuesday night, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds in a pedestrian 31 minutes of work. Westbrook did play hard again, with 27 points and eight dimes off the bench, but he had six turnovers, one pass uglier than the next.
38,388 POINTS
LeBron James hits the fadeaway jumper to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! #ScoringKing pic.twitter.com/P5LyTZAZn3
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2023
A heated halftime exchange with Darvin Ham was also news the next day, which have been a factor in LA making the deal.
Russell essentially replaces Russ, and brings a solid shooting stroke and more controlled play. Vanderbilt is the versatile big LA has needed all year, and Beasley brings 3-point shooting to a squad that desperately needs it. The Lakers are shooting just 33.8% from distance (26th), and makes the 2nd-fewest triples per game.
If the new guys aren’t able to play Thursday, the Lakers’ roster around James and Davis will be patchwork — this from a team that allows 118.6 points per game, the 3rd-worst mark in the league.
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Bucks vs Lakers Betting Prediction
Milwaukee has done work against the lesser teams, going 5-1 against the spread in their last six against teams with a losing record. They’re also 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings with the Lakers.
LA is in 13th in the West, 1.5 games back of the final play-in spot and four back of sixth, above the West play-in mess. I’d like to say there’s a switch they’re going to turn on, but this Milwaukee team is a top-2 pick in the 2023 NBA Championship odds for a reason.
Milwaukee has a hefty +12.5 point differential during this streak. Look for them to take care of business.
Of course, be sure to check who’s in and out as close to gametime as possible, as injuries could shake your betting path.
Pick:
- Bucks -5.5 (-110); 1.5 units to win 1.31 units
- NBA Betting Record: 25-26-1 ATS, 1-1 ML, 5-6 o/u, 0-2 parlays; -8.87 units
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Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
