Brooklyn Nets vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick & Prediction 12/26/24
At 8:00 ET, the 12th ranked Brooklyn Nets (11-18) will travel to Milwaukee to take on the 5th ranked Bucks (16-12). The Bucks are favored by 10.5 points and have won two straight games, while the Nets have lost two in a row.
This Eastern Conference matchup will be played at Fiserv Forum and can be seen on YES.
BROOKLYN NETS VS MILWAUKEE BUCKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -10.5
This game will be played at Fiserv Forum at 8:00 ET on Thursday, December 26th.
WHY BET THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 141-73 in favor of the Bucks.
- Our projections have Giannis Antetokounmpo finishing with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists.
- From the field, we have the Bucks finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.6% and knocking down 17 threes.
Will Brooklyn Make it Happen on the Road?
The Nets fell to 11-18 on the season after a 110-95 road loss to the Heat on Monday. Brooklyn entered the game as +9.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread, losing by 15. The total points for the game were 205, falling short of the 210.5 O/U line.
Brooklyn started poorly, allowing 39 points in the 1st quarter, but bounced back by winning the 2nd quarter 29-19. They trailed 83-78 going into the 4th but were outscored 27-17 in the final period.
In their 110-95 loss to the Heat, the Nets shot just 39.3% from the field, with their three-point shooting at 38.2%, hitting 13 threes. Noah Clowney and Cameron Johnson each scored 19 points, with Clowney hitting 4 threes and Johnson adding 3.
Keon Johnson contributed 15 points, and Tyrese Martin added 14, scoring 8 of those in the 3rd quarter. Clowney and Johnson both had strong 2nd quarters, with Clowney scoring 8 points and Johnson adding 7.
The Nets gave up 39 points in the 1st quarter but tightened up in the 2nd, allowing just 19. They allowed 25 points in the 3rd and 27 in the 4th, giving up 110 points in the loss.
Brooklyn allowed Miami to shoot 49% from the field, including 41% from three, with the Heat hitting 17 threes. The Nets sent Miami to the line 24 times, where they made 21 free throws. Defensively, the Nets recorded 9 steals and 2 blocks.
Can the Bucks Secure a Win at Home?
The Bucks improved to 16-12 on the season with a 112-91 road win over the Bulls on Monday. Milwaukee, who entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread with a dominant +21 point margin.
A 12-0 run early on helped the Bucks jump out to a 33-17 lead after the 1st quarter. Chicago edged Milwaukee 28-26 in the 2nd quarter, but the Bucks responded by outscoring the Bulls 33-27 in the 3rd. Heading into the 4th with a 92-72 lead, Milwaukee held the Bulls to 19 points in the final quarter, while scoring 20. The game’s total of 203 points fell well short of the 225.5 O/U line.
In their win over the Bulls, the Bucks connected on 18 threes, shooting 41.9% from deep. Their overall field goal percentage was 46%.
Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez each scored 21 points, with Middleton adding 10 in the 2nd quarter. Bobby Portis contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds, scoring 9 points in the 3rd quarter.
The Bucks put on a defensive clinic against the Bulls on Monday, holding them to just 91 points. Milwaukee started strong, allowing only 17 points in the 1st quarter and capped the game with a 19-point 4th quarter. Overall, the Bucks limited the Bulls to 40% shooting from the field.
Milwaukee was particularly effective in defending the three-point line, where Chicago shot just 20%, making only 10 threes. The Bucks also sent the Bulls to the free-throw line 12 times, where they made 9. Milwaukee finished the game with 42 defensive rebounds, 7 steals, and 1 block.