Bucks vs Nets Odds and Picks
- Milwaukee is a 2.5-point road favorite over Brooklyn on Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 18th, 7:40 pm EST)
- The Bucks sit first in the East, and have won four straight
- See below for analysis, odds and a betting prediction
Eastern Conference heavyweights square off on Martin Luther King Day, as the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Brooklyn Nets (Jan. 18th, 7:40 pm EST). Milwaukee enters play first in the East at 9-4, and has reeled off four straight victories. Brooklyn meanwhile, has won three in a row and could have all three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving in the lineup for the first time.
Bucks vs Nets Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | -2.5 (-110) | -142 | Over 239.5 (-110) |
| Brooklyn Nets | +2.5 (-110) | +120 | Under 239.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Jan. 17th at FanDuel.
Despite the potential debut of the “new” big three, it’s the Bucks who are 2.5-point favorites. Milwaukee is 6-7 ATS this season, and have yet to be an underdog in any of its 13 contests. The Nets have covered in two of their last three, while the over has hit in each of Brooklyn’s last eight games.
Harden Shines in Debut
If Saturday’s performance against Orlando is any indication, the Nets are going to be nearly impossible to stop. Harden made his Brooklyn debut, without participating in a single team practice beforehand, and delivered an epic performance.
James Harden's debut with the Nets:
32 Pts
12 Reb
14 Ast
4 Stl
1 BlkA new era in Brooklyn 👏 pic.twitter.com/KB3OVDTpo0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 17, 2021
He became the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double in his debut, pouring in 32 points, to go along with 14 assists and 12 blocks in 122-115 victory. Not to be outdone, Kevin Durant scored a season-high 42, raising his season average to 37 points per game. Should his lofty total hold, it would be his highest output since he won the MVP with OKC in 2014.
Kevin Durant is the first player in Nets history to begin the season with 10 straight 20-point games 👏 pic.twitter.com/kmS8sdlBy4
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 17, 2021
Now it appears the rich are about to get richer. Kyrie Irving is questionable to return to the lineup against Milwaukee, potentially ending his six-game hiatus. Irving hasn’t played since January 5th after violating COVID-19 protocols, but his presence would give Brooklyn the best 1-2-3 punch in the league. The Nets already rank third in the conference in points per game (118.9) behind only Washington and the Bucks.
The Bucks are Beasts
Since a 2-3 start, Milwaukee has won seven of its last eight, with six of those victories coming by at least 9 points. They rank first in the East in points per 100 possessions and three point field goal percentage, second in overall shooting percentage, and third in total rebounding.
MVP showdown.
24 hrs away. pic.twitter.com/m8Xq16az9j
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 18, 2021
Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing at an absurd level, averaging 26.6 points, 10 rebounds and 5.2 assists per outing, and is also getting a lot of help from his teammates. Khris Middleton is averaging over 21 points per outing, while newcomer Jrue Holliday is chipping in 15 points and 5.2 assists per contest. Bobby Portis and D.J. Augustin have solidified their bench depth, making this Bucks team arguably the most dangerous of Giannis’ career.
The Milwaukee Bucks have the best point differential (+11.4) in the NBA.
Lakers are second at (+10.5) pic.twitter.com/Vx1ZS3Hfw7
— IKE Bucks Podcast (@IKE_Bucks) January 14, 2021
Defensively, they’re fourth in the conference in points against per 100 possessions, and are holding enemy shooters to 44.4% from the field. The question now is can they slow down this outrageous Nets offense at full strength?
Expect Offensive Fireworks
Each of the Bucks’ last four games have stayed under the total, but consider the opposition. Three of those contests were against Cleveland, Detroit and Orlando, three of the lowest scoring teams in the East. It would be foolish to think they can shut down the Nets, who are basically an all-star team at this point, while conversely Brooklyn’s big three aren’t exactly known for their defense.
The best of an undefeated week by The Greek Freak!! pic.twitter.com/JdXuuqzIPK
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 17, 2021
There’s going to be no shortage of points in this contest, with each team capable or reaching 130 without breaking a sweat. Play the over.
Pick: Over 139.5 (-110)
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.
