Milwaukee Bucks vs Los Angeles Lakers Betting Pick & Prediction 3/20/25
At 10:30 ET, the Lakers (-150) will host the Bucks (+127) in a non-conference matchup. The over/under line is set at 225 points.
Los Angeles is currently on a three-game winning streak and is favored by three points. Milwaukee, on the other hand, has lost two straight and is 5th in the Eastern Conference.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS VS LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -3
This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena at 10:30 ET on Thursday, March 20th.
WHY BET THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 130-96 in favor of the Bucks.
- Our projections have Giannis Antetokounmpo finishing with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.
- From the field, we have the Bucks finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.5% and knocking down 15 threes.
Will Milwaukee Make it Happen on the Road?
The Bucks fell to 38-30 on the season after a 104-93 road loss to the Warriors on Tuesday. Milwaukee, favored by 1.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 197 points was well below the O/U line of 225.
Milwaukee’s 14-0 run turned a 62-49 deficit into a 76-49 lead, but they couldn’t maintain momentum, as they were outscored 26-17 in the 4th quarter.
The Bucks struggled offensively in their 104-93 loss to the Warriors, shooting just 39.2% from the field and 31.6% from three-point range, hitting 12 threes overall. Kyle Kuzma led the way with 22 points, knocking down 5 threes at a 38.5% clip, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 20 points despite shooting 31.2% from the floor.
Brook Lopez was efficient, hitting 70% of his shots and contributing 16 points, as did Damian Lillard, who scored 6 of his 16 points in the 4th quarter. Kuzma had a strong 3rd quarter, scoring 11 points, while Giannis was consistent, putting up 5 points in each quarter.
Defensively, the Bucks tightened up after a rough 1st quarter, where they allowed 32 points, giving up just 20 in the 3rd. Overall, they held the Warriors to 104 points on 41% shooting.
Milwaukee struggled to defend the three, as Golden State hit 17 threes at a 38% clip. The Warriors also made 23 of 26 free throws. The Bucks finished with 9 steals and 4 blocks.
Can the Lakers Pull the Upset at Home?
The Lakers improved to 43-25 on the season with a 120-108 win over the Nuggets on Wednesday. Playing at home, Los Angeles was favored by 5.5 points and covered the spread. The game’s total points of 228 went over the pre-game line of 224.5.
Los Angeles took control early, going on a 12-0 run to extend their lead from 24-16 to 36-16. They finished the 1st quarter up 46-29. Although the Nuggets outscored the Lakers 30-27 in the 2nd quarter, Los Angeles responded by holding Denver to 18 points in the 3rd while scoring 32. The Lakers entered the 4th quarter with a 105-77 lead but were outscored 31-15 in the final period.
The Lakers put up 120 points in their win over the Nuggets, shooting 50.6% from the field. They connected on 16 threes, hitting 42.1% from beyond the arc.
Luka Dončić led the way with 31 points, including 21 in the 1st quarter. Austin Reaves added 22 points, while Dorian Finney-Smith chipped in 14, hitting 3 threes at a 75% rate.
Despite a tough 4th quarter, the Lakers’ defense shined in the 3rd, holding the Nuggets to just 18 points, helping secure a 120-108 win. Overall, they gave up 108 points, with Denver shooting 47% from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Lakers limited the Nuggets to 13 threes on 33% shooting. They also sent Denver to the line 21 times, where the Nuggets made 13 free throws. Defensively, the Lakers recorded 13 steals and 3 blocks.