A pair of Eastern Conference crews jockeying for position at the top of the standings cross paths on Wednesday night when the Milwaukee Bucks make a visit to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers.
This will be these teams’ third of four regular-season matchups, with the Bucks having come out on top in the first two — both last month.
The most recent of the two, which came on November 25, saw Milwaukee top the Cavaliers 117-102.
Giannis Antetokounmpo netted 38 points in that matchup, and his team enjoyed a 23-2 surge out of halftime to climb out of a 16-point hole.
The Bucks scored 25 more points than Cleveland in that third frame, their widest margin against any squad in a quarter in nearly three years.
This one will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and tip-off at 7 p.m. ET.
NBA Matchups
Let’s take a deeper dive into this clash, using some NBA team stats and knowledge on how both sides have done in NBA matchups lately to make our Bucks vs Cavaliers picks.
Cleveland (21-11) has won six of its last eight, including each of the previous four. That stretch includes wins against Dallas, Indiana, and Utah.
The Cavaliers downed the Jazz, 122-99, on Monday. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland in scoring for the fifth outing in a row, bucketing 23 points in 23 minutes — against his former team.
Rebound Double-double
Jarrett Allen chipped in with a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double. Darius Garland totaled 17 points, and Cedi Osman 22. Meanwhile, Utah was limited to a season-low 39.1% shooting percentage.
The Cavaliers are now 15-2 at home, which is the best record of that sort in the NBA. They’re in the middle of a season-long six-game home stand.
Milwaukee (22-8) has done well lately, too, coming out on top in seven of nine. They traveled to New Orleans on Monday, downing the Pelicans 128-119. Giannis posted 42 points and ten boards, while Jrue Holiday pinned up 18.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Odds
The NBA odds consider Cleveland to be a two-point favorite here, as this figures to be a pretty balanced meeting. The Cavaliers’ odds to cover the spread are marked down at -112, while Milwaukee is -108 on those lines.
On the moneyline, Cleveland is -132, and the Bucks are a +112 underdog. The total is set at 216.5 points, with both the over and the under at -110.
Having checked what the oddsmakers think, let’s look at a few other aspects of the game before making any of our Bucks vs Cavaliers picks. The injury report is always a big part of NBA picks, as well as looking at the Milwaukee Bucks standings.
Matchup Information
- Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2022
- Time: 7:00 p.m.
- Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- How to Watch: NBA League Pass
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview
Before putting any money into Bucks vs Cavaliers picks, we’ll want to know who will be on the hardwood. With that, we’ll check out some NBA player stats.
In terms of injuries, Cavaliers point guard Ricky Rubio has scrimmaged with Cleveland’s G-League affiliate, meaning he’s closing in on a return from last year’s season-ending knee surgery.
Forward Lamar Stevens (knee) is doubtful to take part in this tilt, while Dean Wade is still shelved with a shoulder injury. Guard Dylan Windler is still nursing an ankle injury and is doing limited on-court work. He’s out for this one.
Cavaliers’ Stats
Cavaliers stats show Mitchell’s 29.3 points per game average ranks eighth in the league. Center Jarrett Allen pulls down 10.3 rebounds each time out — ninth-best — and Garland dishes out 8.0 assists.
Bucks forward Khris Middleton is doubtful to play against Cleveland with a knee ailment. Giannis is pacing the offense at a rate of 31.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, both of which grade out in the league’s top five at this moment.
Cavaliers vs. Bucks Betting Pick and Prediction
Will the Bucks continue to have Cleveland’s number? Or will the Cavaliers flip things around this time around on the NBA schedule? Go with the latter here, and choose the Cavs to cover the spread.
NBA Pick: Cavaliers -2 (-110)
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