Bucks & Lakers Meet in Duel of MVP Candidates; LAL Short 1-Point Favorites

• Lakers host Bucks Friday night (March 6) in matchup of top two teams in NBA
• Milwaukee the only team in the NBA with single-digit losses
• Get the odds, our picks, and all the info you need to bet the game below

The top two teams in the NBA will clash Friday night (March 6) at Staples Center as the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks (53-9, 25-6 away) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (47-13, 22-7 home). Tip-off for this heavyweight tilt goes at 10:30pm ET.

It’s their final regular season matchup, and these two teams won’t see each other again, unless they square off in the NBA Finals.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds

Odds taken March 5

This might also be the last meaningful chance LeBron James has to put a dent into Giannis Antetokounmpo’s almost inevitable second consecutive MVP campaign. Let’s break down the Bucks vs Lakers odds and find the best bet.

Bucks Mashing Teams at All-Time Pace

In a year with the LA teams hoarding the spotlight, the Rockets getting weird with micro-ball, the surprising Miami Heat, the spirited title defense of the Toronto Raptors, and the rise of youngsters like Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum, you forget sometimes the Bucks are laying waste to the NBA.

A dominant February as seen by True View!! pic.twitter.com/EyUJLGNrst

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 5, 2020

After a shocking loss to the Heat, they got right back to business last game in Indiana, blowing out the Pacers 119-100.

They’re the only team yet to break double digits in the loss column, and they’re doing it at both ends. They lead the NBA in points per game at 119.1, while shooting 47.9% from the field, which ranks second. They’re also first in total rebounding, and their point differential is an unreal +12.4 — no other team in the association is above +7.5.

Bucks defense so committed to protecting the paint. Watch how they rotate and help/recover. FVV goes backdoor, Middleton (not the weakside) sees it and takes the cutter. Lopez gets beat on the drive, Giannis steps up, Bledsoe sees it and sinks to Siakam at the dunker. pic.twitter.com/By0Wn7gkyB

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) February 26, 2020

At the other end of the court, they are first in defensive rating, and trail the Raptors by one-tenth for fewest points allowed per game. Their formula is to protect the paint: while Milwaukee ranks in the bottom half of opponents’ three-point shooting percentage, they are first in overall field goal percentage, with teams shooting just 41.1%.

What makes Giannis Antetokounmpo such a difficult opponent according to AD & Lebron pic.twitter.com/cUVlJRgo6K

— NICK HAMILTON (@NickHamiltonLA) March 5, 2020

Everything revolves around Antetokounmpo, who’s having a career year, after coming off an MVP-winning season. He enters Friday averaging a career-best 29.6 points per game on 54.8% shooting, as well as a career-best 13.8 rebounds (fourth in the NBA) and 5.8 assists.

He also has the hottest wingman going in the game right now with Khris Middleton. That, and a very well built team of complimentary players has them still on pace to break 70 wins.

Lakers Faring Better vs Top Competition

The early knock on the Lakers’ ascension to the top of the West was that they’d done it on the strength of beating up on the lesser opposition, while struggling against the upper crust of the NBA.

😤 @AntDavis23 delivers an all-around performance in the @Lakers home W.

37 PTS | 13 REB | 4 STL | 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/tgvlHCl3v4

— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2020

A quick glance at their loss column, and of their 13 losses, 11 have come against current playoff teams. But since just before the All-Star break, they’ve racked up impressive wins against the Nuggets on the road,  and the Celtics and 76ers at home. They’ve upped their record to 18-11 now against teams with .500 or better records.

Though their defense hasn’t been as suffocating as the start of the year, LA is more than competent and able to dig in for stops. They’re third in defensive rating, and still a top-5 unit in points per game allowed.

The 36-footer. The tomahawk. @KingJames is must-see every night. pic.twitter.com/3vTa21gied

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 5, 2020

While Giannis is the main man in Milwaukee, it’s a two-headed beast pacing the Lakers. James is having one of the best years of his career, an unreal accomplishment considering he’s a 4-time MVP and he’s in year 17 and 35 years old.

LeBron is averaging 25.4 points and 7.8 rebounds while leading the NBA at 10.7 assists per game.

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis is leading the team in scoring (26.6 points), rebounds (9.5) and blocks (2.5) while shooting a sparkling 51.3% from the field. He was electric last time out against Philly, posting an 18-point second quarter spurt en route to a 37-point, 13-rebound effort.

What’s the Best Bet?

The Lakers would like nothing more than another signature win, but they’re going to need additional cast members to show up. In their previous meeting with Milwaukee, James and Davis combined for 57 points, and Danny Green chipped in with 21. The rest of the Lakers? They delivered just 26 points while shooting 39% from the field and the Lakers lost 111-104. It’s perhaps why Lakers made a move for some offense Thursday.

Free agent Dion Waiters has agreed on a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for the remainder of the season, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 5, 2020

Milwaukee is a perfect 7-0 SU against the Pacific Division, and 5-2 ATS. They’re tied with the Lakers for the best road record in the league at 25-6.

Hard to pick a winner here, but expect both teams to bring their A+ defensive efforts, bringing playoff intensity to what should be a hotly contested game. That should keep the score close, and low.

The pick: under 228.0 (-110)