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Bucks vs Cavaliers Odds and Picks

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 9, 2022 · 8:55 PM PDT

Evan Mobley dunk
Mar 28, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) dunks in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
  • The Bucks vs Cavaliers odds favor Cleveland by 5.5 points on Sunday, April 10 at 3:30pm ET
  • Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are all listed as doubtful
  • Read below for the Bucks vs Cavaliers odds, analysis, and betting prediction

The stakes are high on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland as the Cavaliers host the Bucks on the final day of the regular season. Cleveland needs a win to secure eighth place in the East and a date with Brooklyn in the Play-in Tournament, while Milwaukee can lock up the East’s second seed with a victory.

Bucks vs Cavaliers Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Milwaukee Bucks +188 +5.5 (-110) OFF
Cleveland Cavaliers -225 -5.5 (-110) OFF

Odds as of April 9th at FanDuel Sportsbook.

 

The Bucks, however, don’t seem too concerned about finishing second in the East. Milwaukee is listing six players either doubtful or out as of Saturday night, including Giannis Antetokounmpo.

To no one’s surprise given the injury news, Cleveland opened up as a 5.5-point favorite. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30pm ET at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, a building where the Cavs are 24-16 this season.

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Analysis

In addition to Antetokounmpo (knee), Milwaukee starters Khris Middleton (wrist) and Brook Lopez (maintenance) are also doubtful. Same goes for backup forward Bobby Portis (shoulder), while reserve guards George Hill (abdominal) and Grayson Allen (hip) are already confirmed out.

The Bucks are 6-8 without Antetokounmpo in 2021-22, and suffered a 119-90 defeat to the Cavs earlier this season without the two-time MVP. They’re going to have a tough time not only staying competitive with Cleveland on Sunday, but also finding enough bodies just to play the game.

None of the Milwaukee injuries are considered serious, so maybe there’s method to their madness. Should they lose and Boston beat Memphis on Sunday, than the Bucks will finish third instead of second. Finishing third guarantees a first round playoff date with Chicago, while finishing second means their most likely playoff opponent will be Brooklyn.

Considering the Nets NBA Championship odds are nearly 10 times shorter than the Bulls’, we’d be hard pressed to think Milwaukee would rather face Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and company.

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Analysis

The Cavaliers blew a chance to be in the driver’s seat for home court in the Play-In Tournament by falling to Brooklyn 118-107 on Friday. They still have an outside shot to finish in seventh, but it will require not only a victory over Milwaukee, but also a Nets loss to an Indiana on Sunday as a 15.5-point favorite.

Cleveland enters play having dropped three straight and eight of its past 10. They did get some good news on the injury front on Friday, as rookie sensation Evan Mobley returned from a five-game absence. The favorite in the Rookie of the Year odds had been nursing a sprained ankle, but looked fully healthy logging 34 minutes against the Nets.

The Cavs will still be missing starting center Jarrett Allen on Sunday however, as the big man is still not over his finger injury. Cleveland is 8-17 without Allen this season, and 6-11 since he last played back in early March.

Bucks vs Cavaliers Betting Analysis

The Cavaliers have been a profitable team to bet at home this season, and this game sets up perfectly for them. Their Achilles heel is scoring, ranking 25th in points per game, but they’re not going to need to put up a big total with Milwaukee devoid of offensive talent due to injury.

The Cavs covered in their only home meeting so far with the Bucs this season, and are 21-17-2 ATS at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in 2021-22.

At the other end of the court, defense is the Cleveland’s strength. The Cavs rank sixth in defensive rating and have held the Bucks to 99 points or less in back-to-back meetings.

The 5.5-point spread actually seems low given who’s projected to miss the game for Milwaukee. I’d lock that number in now because there is a strong chance it is much higher by tip-off.

Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -5.5 (-110)

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