Los Angeles Clippers 3.5-Point Underdogs Ahead of Friday Night Clash in Milwaukee

• Milwaukee own joint-best record in the NBA
• The Clippers are 3-5 in their eight road games this season
• Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below

In a potential NBA Finals preview, the Los Angeles Clippers head to Milwaukee to face the Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 6th. Milwaukee are the hottest team in the NBA at the moment, having won their last 13 on the bounce. They haven’t lost in almost a month.

The latest  Los Angeles Clippers vs Milwaukee Bucks odds make the visitors 3.5-point underdogs. The Clips have been playing great basketball themselves lately, winning nine of their last 10. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have fit together seamlessly.

This matchup isn’t going to be season defining, but it’s a significant opportunity for either to put a market down against one of their rivals for the title. Who knows, this could be a prologue to a Finals duel next spring.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Milwaukee Bucks Odds

Odds taken Dec. 6.

Forget About Game

Milwaukee beat the Clips at Staples Center earlier this season, but that game isn’t exactly a great predictor for this one. George and Leonard both missed out in California, and the All-NBA duo are expected to play on Friday night. In fact, Milwaukee and Los Angeles will be naming full-strength starting line-ups.

JaMychal Green is questionable for the Clippers, while Landry Shamet and Rodney McGruder are out. The Bucks should have a fully healthy roster.

The availability of Leonard prepares us for one of the leading narratives of the season. Before the campaign began, there was debate about whether Leonard or Giannis Antetokounmpo were the best player in the league. The pair faced each other in the Eastern Conference Finals earlier this year, and Leonard changed the series once he started guarding the Greek Freak.

Antetokounmpo didn’t have to deal with Leonard at Staples Center. He scored 38 points with 16 rebounds and nine assists. This game will be different – Antetokounmpo will often be guarded by Leonard or George, two of the league’s best defenders.

Force Others to Beat Them

The Clips will likely force everyone but Antetokounmpo to beat them. Mike Budenholzer’s spaced offensive system has seen Antetokounmpo flourish, but it relies on the supporting cast hitting shots. Los Angeles will be happy to force Brook Lopez, Eric Bledsoe and Wesley Matthews to hit threes. Ersan Ilyasova (28.6%) and Pat Connaughton (32%) have struggled from deep early this year as well.

FWIW, Brook Lopez hasn't been as impactful as a shooter this year as he was last year for the Bucks.

He's shooting 29% from 3 on 5 attempts.
Also shooting 27% on wide open 3's (20-74)

— Matt (@sixringsofsteeI) December 5, 2019

Milwaukee rank 19t in the NBA in three-point percentage despite taking the third-most per game. The Clippers are top ten in three-point percentage allowed. Doc Rivers, like all coaches, will be looking to stop Antetokounmpo getting to the rim, and make him pass it out to shooters. For all their success this season, Milwaukee’s shooters haven’t been at their best.

Clippers Present Value

The Bucks’ record is impressive, but they have only beaten two teams above .500 on their winning streak. The Clippers have got the better of the Rockets, Celtics and Mavericks since November 20. Over the last 10 games, Los Angeles own the best defensive rating in the league at 101.5. Milwaukee sit in fifth at 102.8.

Over the same period, the Bucks are the second-best offense in the league and the Clippers are fifth.
These are two elite teams at both ends of the floor with two of the top five players in the NBA involved.

The Clippers look a good price to get the win in this one. They are one of the only teams in the league who have the personnel to really challenge Antetokounmpo. These are the games where Milwaukee could really miss Malcolm Brogdon’s scoring.

Pick: Los Angeles Clippers +3.5 (-110)