Venue: Fiserv Forum
Home: Milwaukee Bucks
Away: Charlotte Hornets
01.02.2023, @04:00 AM (+03:00 UTC)
We are into that weird territory of the NBA Regular Season where many players are unsure if they will be on the same team for long. The trade deadline is just a week away or so which means that different Franchises are working on making some moves to bolster their strength. One team that needs a lot of help is the Charlotte Hornets and they will take on the highly charged-up Milwaukee Bucks.
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The Bucks enter the picture after defeating the Williamson-less Pelicans 135:110 as herculean Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 50 points. They have now won four in a row and six of their last season, improving to 33 wins and 17 losses, still in hunt for the first place in the Eastern standings. He has scored 130 or more in five of the seven games, their best offensive stretch by far and also one of the best in the league. Their offense has improved by leaps and bounds.
Giannis has torn apart defenses at an astounding rate lately, having scored in 30s, 40s, and also 50 in three of the last four games. Jrue Holiday has continued to be a balancing act through his amazing playmaking, consistent scoring, and superb defense. Khris Middleton’s scoring has halved due to an injury bug but Brook Lopez has been effective on both ends. The injury to Bobby Portis has hurt the cause but overall, they have showcased a lot of depth.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets enter the fray after defeating the Heat 122:117 as Terry Rozier banged home 31 points and they have now won four out of their last six games for the first time this season. They are yet to win more than two games in a row and their struggles have been multi-fold on both ends of the floor. LaMelo Ball had missed a lot of weeks’ action before which also derailed the campaign.
The other trouble is that the team was without their 20+ points scorer Miles Bridges(Legal issues). Terry Rozier had led the scoring effort and in fact, has led it for six games in a row even when Ball is back. PJ Washington has been below-par whereas Plumlee has his limitations. The defense has been atrocious for most parts and with the trade deadline approaching, Charlotte can be busy.
Injuries
- Bucks: OUT: Bobby Portis, Serge Ibaka. PROBABLE: MarJon Beauchamp, Giannis Antetokounmpo;
- Hornets: OUT: Cody Martin, Kelly Oubre Jr.
Player Props Predictions
- Expected Leading Scorers: Giannis Antetokounmpo(32+ Points), Terry Rozier(25-31 Points);
- Expected Leading Rebounders: Giannis Antetokounmpo(13-16 Rebounds), Mason Plumlee(10-13 Rebounds);
- Expected Leading Playmakers: Jrue Holiday(7-9 Assists), LaMelo Ball(6-8 Assists).
Expert Betting Tips
The Bucks have been unstoppable as of late and they are just decimating defenses with Giannis wreaking havoc around the rim. The Hornets have been playing much better and have also defeated some tough squads but their overall vulnerabilities come in full frame when they go up against a team like Milwaukee. That is why I predict a 136:110 scoreline in favor of the Bucks.