Orlando Magic vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick & Prediction 3/8/25
At 8:00 ET, the Milwaukee Bucks (-268) will host the Orlando Magic (+219) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Bucks are favored by 6.5 points and have won four straight games. The Magic (-268) have lost five straight and are 9th in the East.
This game will be played at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The over/under line for this game is 218 points. The Bucks are 4th in the East and 2nd in the Central Division, while the Magic are 3rd in the Southeast Division.
ORLANDO MAGIC VS MILWAUKEE BUCKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -6.5
This game will be played at Fiserv Forum at 8:00 ET on Saturday, March 8th.
WHY BET THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 131-115 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 the Magic Make it Happen on the Road?
Orlando’s season record dropped to 29-35 after a 125-123 loss to the Bulls on Thursday. The Magic were -8.5 point favorites at home but failed to cover the spread. The game’s total score of 248 points exceeded the O/U line of 221 by 27 points.
Orlando went on a 13-0 run, turning a 69-63 deficit into a 76-69 lead. They led 101-96 going into the 4th quarter, but the Bulls outscored them 29-22 in the final period to take the win.
In their 125-123 loss to the Bulls, the Magic shot 46% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 9 threes at a 27.3% rate. Paolo Banchero and Cole Anthony each scored 20 points, with Banchero shooting 33.3% and Anthony making 2 threes at 40%.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 19 points, shooting 80% and hitting 2 threes at 50%. Anthony scored 11 of his points in the 3rd quarter, while Banchero also added 11 in the 2nd quarter.
Defensively, the Magic struggled in the 1st and 2nd quarters, giving up 33 and 36 points, respectively, in their 125-123 loss to the Bulls. They tightened up in the 3rd, allowing 27 points, and gave up 29 in the 4th. Overall, Orlando allowed Chicago to shoot 50% from the field.
The Magic also had trouble defending the three-point line, where the Bulls hit 15 threes at a 37% clip. Orlando sent Chicago to the line 30 times, where they converted 24 free throws. The Magic recorded 10 steals and 5 blocks in the game.
Will the Bucks Defense Show Up at Home?
The Bucks improved to 36-25 with a dominant 137-107 win over the Mavericks on Wednesday. Playing at home, Milwaukee entered the game as -11.5 favorites and covered the spread with a +30 margin. The total points of 244 exceeded the O/U line of 225.5 by 18.5.
Milwaukee set the tone early, going on an 11-0 run to push the score from 28-22 to 39-22. They led 43-30 after the 1st quarter and continued to build their lead, outscoring Dallas 29-23 in the 2nd and 34-26 in the 3rd. Heading into the 4th with a 106-79 lead, the Bucks finished strong, winning the final quarter 31-28.
In their 137-107 win over the Mavericks, the Bucks shot 58.4% from the field and hit 16 threes at a 45.7% clip. Damian Lillard led the way with 34 points, including 16 in the 1st quarter, and hit 5 threes at 62.5%.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 32 points and 15 rebounds, scoring 12 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters. AJ Green knocked down 6 threes, finishing with 18 points, 9 of which came in the 3rd quarter.
The Bucks held the Mavericks to 107 points on Wednesday, tightening up defensively in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed just 23 points. Milwaukee gave up 30 points in the 1st quarter but bounced back, conceding 26 in the 3rd and 28 in the 4th.
Defensively, the Bucks limited Dallas to 45% shooting, including 33% from beyond the arc, where the Mavericks made 13 threes. Milwaukee also sent Dallas to the free-throw line only 10 times, with the Mavericks hitting 4. The Bucks controlled the boards with 47 defensive rebounds, allowing just 5 offensive boards, and added 6 steals and 4 blocks.