Los Angeles Lakers vs Milwaukee Bucks betting tips and predictions for Thursday’s NBA game on TNT. The Lakers will try to end a 8-game win streak by the Milwaukee Bucks as the two teams clash for the 2nd and final time this regular season. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Los Angeles Lakers
History was made on Tuesday at crypto.com Arena as LeBron James scored 38 points and passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The record stood for 38 years before James broke it, but the party was spoiled by the OKC Thunder who won the game 133-130.
It was the 2nd game in a row the Lakers allowed over 130 points, they decided to part ways with Russell Westbrook who was traded for D’Angelo Russell in a 3-team trade, landing the former Laker back with the team that originally traded him. It’ll be an interesting fit between him, James and Davis. He adds three-point shooting and playmaking, although the jury is still out on whether or not he will start for the Lakers and stay there long term.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks don’t have issues like that, they are one of the most stable franchises in the NBA in terms of player movement. They are the hottest team in the league right now with 8 wins in a row, but revenge will be on their mind as they take on the Lakers who beat them earlier this season 133-129 at Fiserv Forum. Milwaukee couldn’t do much about Anthony Davis as he finished with 44 points, spoiling the night for Giannis who also went for 40.
The Bucks do have the edge in head-to-head meetings despite that loss though, they’ve gone 9-3 SU in the last 12 played. They are also on a 7-game win streak vs Western Conference teams, however Brook Lopez is questionable here with an illness after scoring 27 points in the win over Portland.
The Lakers just aren’t good enough. They might have a couple of star players on paper, but as a team they are just not functioning at a high level. Milwaukee is on a surge right now and I can’t see LA stopping them right now. Back the Bucks.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Milwaukee Bucks Predictions & Odds
LA’s defense is in the bottom 5 of most statistical categories this season, so it’s not really surprising that OKC and New Orleans scored 133 and 131 on them in their last 2 games. That was the 4th time in 5 games they’ve allowed at least 120 points and things aren’t looking good ahead of the game vs one of the most prolific offenses in the NBA.
The Bucks have been scoring points at will lately, they’ve dropped at least 120 in 6 of the 8 games during this win streak, Giannis alone has gone over 50 twice during the last 4 games played. The total has gone over in 10 of 12 Bucks games vs Pacific Division teams, while for the Lakers this has happened in 4 of their last 6 games overall. This game has all the elements of a high scoring outcome, so let’s back the over in this one.
