The Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets face off for the second time in three nights on Monday. The Hornets knocked off the Bucks by an eight-point margin on Saturday, with both teams staying in Charlotte since that contest. Milwaukee is 26-16 this season, with Charlotte's latest win improving its record to 21-19. Pat Connaughton (protocols) is listed as questionable for Milwaukee, with Jrue Holiday (ankle), Brook Lopez (back), George Hill (protocols) and Grayson Allen (protocols) ruled out, while Kelly Oubre Jr. (protocols) is out for Charlotte.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as a 2.5-point road favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the Over-Under, is 235 in the latest odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Bucks vs. Hornets match-up, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model entered Week 13 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 52-28 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Hornets, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Hornets vs. Bucks:
- Bucks vs. Hornets spread: Bucks -2.5
- Bucks vs. Hornets over-under: 235 points
- Bucks vs. Hornets money line: Bucks -140, Hornets +120
- MIL: The Bucks are 12-10 against the spread in road games
- CHA: The Hornets are 13-3 against the spread in home games
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee's offense is very strong, and the matchup against the Hornets is also favorable for the Bucks on that end of the floor. The Bucks are scoring nearly 1.12 points per possession, ranking in the top eight of the NBA in offensive rating. Charlotte ranks in the bottom five of the league on defense, giving up 113.5 points per 100 possessions for the season. The Bucks rank in the top eight of the league in both three-pointers (14.3 per game) and three-point accuracy (36.1 percent), and the Hornets are dead-last in the NBA in three-pointers allowed.
Charlotte is also last in the NBA in preventing assists, and the Hornets are third-worst in the league in two-point percentage allowed. Milwaukee is above-average in free throw attempts (21.3 per game), offensive rebound rate (27.4 percent) and turnover rate (13.9 percent).
Why the Hornets can cover
Charlotte appears to be the healthier side overall, and the Hornets have been playing well lately. They've won two straight and five of their last seven. That span includes a 114-106 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday. The Hornets have been tremendous against the spread at home, posting a 13-3 ATS mark. They've also covered in both games against Milwaukee thus far during the 2021-22 season.
Milwaukee, in contrast, is just 1-3 both straight up and against the spread in its last four games. The Bucks have the best overall player on the court in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Charlotte is arguably more balanced, especially with Holiday out for the Bucks. Five Charlotte players average at least 16.6 points per game with Miles Bridges (19.6 ppg) and LaMelo Ball (19.3 ppg) leading the way.
How to make Hornets vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 223 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Bucks vs. Hornets? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
