Fiserv Forum hosts an intriguing cross-conference NBA tilt on Friday as the Milwaukee Bucks host the Los Angeles Lakers in the 21st game of the season for both teams. Milwaukee is 15-5 and 11-2 at home, while Los Angeles is just 8-12 overall, but the Lakers have won six of their last eight games. Khris Middleton (wrist) is listed as probable and expected to make his season debut for Milwaukee, while MarJon Beauchamp (illness) and Serge Ibaka (illness) are out. Dennis Schroder (personal) is out for Los Angeles.
Caesars Sportsbook lists the Bucks as 9-point home favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 230.5 in the latest Bucks vs. Lakers odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Lakers vs. Bucks match-up, you'll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four seasons. The model enters Week 7 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 106-70 roll on all top-rated NBA picks that dates back to last season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Bucks. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Bucks vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -9
- Lakers vs. Bucks over/under: 230.5 points
- Lakers vs. Bucks money line: Bucks -400, Lakers +310
- Los Angeles: The Lakers are 8-12 against the spread this season
- Milwaukee: The Bucks are 12-7-1 against the spread this season
- Lakers vs. Bucks picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Lakers can cover
After an ugly start to the 2022-23 campaign, the Lakers are on the upswing. Los Angeles is 6-2 in the last eight games, and the Lakers are out-scoring opponents by 8.7 points per 100 possessions. That coincides with improved shooting, including a 60.5% true shooting mark in those eight contests. The Lakers are in the top three of the NBA in free throw attempts (25.6 per game), and Los Angeles is shooting 80.3% at the charity stripe. Los Angeles is above-average in ball security, committing a turnover on only 14.5% of possessions, and the Lakers are very strong on defense.
The Lakers are in the top eight of the NBA in defensive rating, giving up 110.1 points per 100 possessions, and Los Angeles is in the top quartile of the league in free throw prevention (21.6 attempts per game), 2P accuracy allowed (52.7%), 3P accuracy allowed (34.0%), and FG percentage allowed (45.8%). Milwaukee is No. 29 in the NBA in free throw accuracy on offense, and the Bucks are below-average in field goal percentage.
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee is keyed by an elite player in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time NBA MVP is averaging 31.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, and he is shooting 53.3% from the field. Milwaukee also projects to get Middleton back for the first time all season, boosting the team's offensive ceiling. The Bucks are above-average in 3-pointers (13.0 per game) and free throw creation (24.2 attempts per game) on offense, with top-of-the-line defensive metrics.
Milwaukee leads the NBA in defensive efficiency, giving up fewer than 1.07 points per possession. The Bucks are in the top three of the league in field goal percentage allowed, 2-point percentage allowed, defensive rebound rate, and blocked shots per game.
How to make Lakers vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, with 10 players projected to score in double figures. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the picks here.
So who wins Bucks vs. Lakers? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Lakers vs. Bucks spread you need to jump on Friday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
