LA Clippers vs Bucks Betting Odds: Giannis, Kawhi Set for Showdown
Clippers Keep Climbing in the West
Bucks Continue Strong Homestand
The Milwaukee Bucks will look to extend their current win streak to six games as they make positive strides as their team returns to full health. Let’s take a look at our LA Clippers vs Milwaukee Bucks betting odds preview and see where the value is for bettors in this matchup.
The Bucks have won five straight games, including both outings on their current four game home stand. The team hasn’t lost since welcoming back Khris Middleton to the rotation and it seems they’re back to being the elite offensive unit we’ve come to expect from them under Mike Budenholzer as we approach the All-Star break.
Things are trending similarly for the Clippers who have won six of their last seven games – the only loss coming on a night where the team rested their starters in Cleveland. Kawhi Leonard is looking back to his best on the court and the team is beginning to show their true potential together as they make a push for home court seeding in the Western Conference.
The Bucks have opened as 4.5-point favorites for this one, with the total currently sitting at 231.5 points.
Giannis Continues to Elevate His Game
Giannis Antetokounmpo is once again putting together an MVP-level season as his two-way play again ranks among the best in the NBA on a per minute basis.
The Greek Freak is averaging 34. 2 points and 13.1 rebounds per 36 minutes this season, which are career-highs to date. His 38.5% usage rate is also a career-high and testament to the heavy lifting he’s had to do this season with so many key pieces out of the rotation on a regular basis for Milwaukee through the first half of the season.
The Bucks are just 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for the #1 seed in the NBA and will look to put together a strong run as they prepare for a favorable schedule to close out the regular season. Milwaukee is 21-5 straight up at home this season, with their 81% win rate at home ranking third in the NBA.
The team has a +7.7 average margin on their home floor and they rank in the top-10 in both offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency at home on the season – one of only four teams to do so on the season.
The Bucks have performed well against non-conference opponents this season, going 11-6-1 (65%) ATS. The primary question for them in this matchup is whether they can limit the perimeter scoring from the Clippers and force them inside where Giannis and Brook Lopez can challenge them with their length and size.
The Bucks are 17-9 to the Over on full game totals at home this season and are 11-7 to the Over in non-conference matchups.
Clippers Stacking Up Wins
Continuing our LA Clippers vs Bucks betting odds preview: The Clippers are finally popping up healthy on the NBA injury report and the difference it’s made for them is notable as they get familiar with having both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George available together most nights.
Over the past fortnight, the Clippers have recorded a +6.0 efficiency differential – ranking third in the NBA in that span. They’ve averaged 124.7 points per 100 possessions (3rd) while owning a 59.7% Effective Field Goal average (3rd).
Their defensive numbers have slumped in that period but that shouldn’t be a concern for them long-term considering how effective they’ve been at that end of the floor for multiple seasons now under Ty Lue.
The Clippers offense has been top-10 in 3-point shot frequency during their recent resurgence and are the sixth best team in 3-point percentage to match in that time frame. They’re the number one team in generating and converting corner three’s and it speaks to how much the floor opens up for them when they have two elite midrange scorers in Leonard and George.
While Milwaukee’s defense has done a better job of running teams off the perimeter this season they are still susceptible to giving up wide open looks from deep and the Clippers have the players and scheme to exploit that in this matchup.
While both teams possess elite defensive potential our NBA predictions for this game are to expect points in abundance given the way both teams are executing at that end of the floor right now. The Clippers are also 13-9 to the Over in non-conference games and that’s how we project this game to play out once more.
That’s all for our LA Clippers vs Bucks betting odds preview. Be sure to check back for more NBA analysis and recaps.
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