The Los Angeles Lakers, coming off a much-needed victory in their desperate hunt for a playoff berth, look to get another win Friday when they host the Milwaukee Bucks. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET from Staples Center. The Lakers (30-31) head into Friday three games back of the final spot in the Western Conference playoff race. Meanwhile, the Bucks (47-14) own the top seed in the East and have won six straight games, as well as 12 of their past 13. Milwaukee is a 4.5-point favorite and the over-under for total points scored is 237 in the latest Lakers vs. Bucks odds. Before you make any Lakers vs. Bucks picks of your own, check out what the SportsLine projection model has to say.
The model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, is crushing its NBA picks. It entered Week 20 of the 2018-19 NBA season with a sterling 222-169 record on all top-rated picks, returning more than $4,000 to anybody following them. And it has been particularly red-hot on its A-rated NBA picks against the spread, entering Week 20 on a blistering 46-32 run. Anybody who has followed it is way up.
Now, it has locked in on Lakers vs. Bucks. We can tell you it is leaning under and it has also generated a point-spread selection that hits well over 50 percent of the time. That pick is available only at SportsLine.
The model knows the explosive Bucks are eager to keep their grip on the lead in the Eastern Conference. They sit 2.5 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors in the race for the top seed in the NBA playoff bracket. Front-running NBA clubs often are susceptible to letdowns on the road against inferior opponents, but that hasn't been the case for Milwaukee, which has beaten Chicago and Sacramento in the first two of a four-game road stretch.
The Bucks squandered a double-digit lead Wednesday but still outlasted the Kings 141-140 in overtime behind a balanced effort. Milwaukee had five players in double-figures, with MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo getting 17 points and seven boards in 24 minutes.
Milwaukee has covered six of its last seven on the road, but there's no guarantee it will be able to cover the Lakers vs. Bucks spread on Friday with LeBron James desperate to get Los Angeles in the postseason.
On Wednesday night, the Lakers showed what they are capable of when they play with a sense of urgency. James had 33 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. He sealed the game with a fall-away 3-pointer in the final seconds, but he also had plenty of help.
Six Lakers reached double-figures, including all five starters. Brandon Ingram recorded 23 points and six rebounds, while Kyle Kuzma went for 22 points and five boards. Los Angeles shot 52.1 percent from the field and had 37 assists on 49 field goals.
Who wins Bucks vs. Lakers? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Bucks vs. Lakers spread you should be all over Friday, all from the model that's up more than $4,000 on NBA picks this season.
