We can call Wednesday’s Denver Nuggets (34-14) at Milwaukee Bucks (30-17) matchup the MVP Bowl because it features Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who, between them, have claimed the last four NBA Most Valuable Player awards.
In a game like this, you know the production of both Jokic (25.1/11/9.9) and Antetokounmpo (30.9/11.9/5.3) is going to be there, so the Nuggets vs Bucks prediction really relies on which team has the better-supporting cast that steps up. It does seem somewhat strange that the Nuggets are +7.5 underdogs in the NBA odds today, but Milwaukee is also very good at home (18-5).
Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks Odds
Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks Information
DEN Nuggets vs MIL Bucks
Location of the game: Fiserv Forum. Milwaukee, WI.
Date: Wednesday, January 25t. 8:00 PM ET.
How to watch: ALT, Bally Sports.
Last Game Record
It’s close to a year to the day that these two teams last met, with the Nuggets picking up a huge 136-100 win at Fiserv Forum on January 25th, 2022, as +6.5 underdogs on the NBA schedule. Jokic had a decent 18/10/15, but five other Nuggets players had at least 13 points, led by 24 from Aaron Gordon.
Antetokounmpo had 29 points in the most recent meeting with Denver, but he couldn’t stop the trend of the road team winning four straight in the head-to-head NBA matchups– all by double figures.
Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks Analysis
The Denver Nuggets standings have stayed firm as the first-place team in the West thanks to a 10-1 mark over their last 11 games. The Memphis Grizzlies simultaneously losing three in a row has Denver with a 2.5-game lead in the conference.
Both teams are trying to get healthy coming into the Nuggets vs Bucks prediction. Jokic missed the January 20th game against Indiana, but Denver was just fine in a 134-111 win, but his hamstring continued to be an issue Sunday against Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Nuggets ended up losing 101-99 against Oklahoma City to snap a nine-game win streak.
Jokic did return on Tuesday in New Orleans to post a 25/11/10 triple-double, but he also played 36 minutes and now has the back-to-back again on the road vs. the third-place team in the East.
Antetokounmpo is back in the lineup
The home team is not on the back-to-back for the Milwaukee Bucks schedule; in fact, they are coming off a relatively easy 150-130 win in Detroit on Monday night. That was the perfect game to ease Antetokounmpo back into the lineup after he missed four games to rest his knee, while Khris Middleton also returned after missing the last 18 contests with his own knee issues.
So Milwaukee seems relatively healthy (besides Bobby Portis) heading into the NBA picks today, while Denver is playing on consecutive nights while also likely missing Michael Porter, Jr. (personal) and Bones Hyland (finger). Therein lies the reason why Denver is getting +7.5 points in the NBA picks today.
Odds Breakdown
Denver Nuggets
Moneyline: +250
Spread: +7.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 232.0
Milwaukee Bucks
Moneyline: -300
Spread: -7.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 232.0
Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick and Prediction
As they put it themselves, “the band is back together” for the home team, which should play into the Nuggets vs Bucks prediction. Antetokounmpo and Middleton were the driving forces behind the championship run a couple of seasons ago, and don’t forget about Jrue Holiday on the NBA player stats, as he recently posted consecutive 35+ point games.
The Nuggets NBA team stats are hard to overlook here, too, though, as they rank #1 in the NBA in field goal and three-point shooting. Is Denver getting +7.5 points posted solely on them being on the back-to-back and after an exhausting 99-98 win in New Orleans – the second straight time the Nuggets have been held under 100 points?
This is one where you read the line, and it seems like Milwaukee should only be a -3.5 to -4.5 favorite. A lot of the public bettors should be jumping on the 1st place Nuggets getting the most points they have since November 20th – so go the other way.
Pick 1: Bucks -7.5
Pick 2: Under 232
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