The Milwaukee Bucks host the Charlotte Hornets as massive home favorites this Tuesday night. The NBA betting odds peg Milwaukee as double-digit favorites, which is the fourth time in their last five games. Yet Charlotte has been in good form lately, having covered four of its last six games.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report and NBA lines for Hornets vs Bucks. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Have Hornets Abandoned the “Tank”?
For most of the season, it appeared like the Hornets would contend for the worst record in the NBA. However, the team has been on a bit of a rally and has won four of its last six – three as underdogs. The Hornets are still 21 games under .500 and are nowhere near a playoff spot. Still, this team is healthy and playing better.
But the likes of LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward are playing, and Charlotte is significantly better when they do. The team’s offense improves by 5.5 points with “Melo” on the court and its defense by 5.9 points when Hayward is. In fact, Charlotte is 5-21 when Hayward does not play.
LaMelo Ball scored 13 of his 19 points in the 4th quarter of the Hornets win over the Heat pic.twitter.com/p47RfmufE5
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 30, 2023
The team is also coached by Steve Clifford. As an “old school” leader, Clifford will not allow lazy efforts on both ends. Expect Charlotte to play like it is a playoff contender, thus making it an interesting underdog to bet on online.
Bucks Can Dominate With Size
Size matters. At least, it does with teams like the Bucks. As one of the NBA’s bigger squads, Milwaukee is able to outrebound and neutralize most teams’ interior scoring. It’s a reason why Milwaukee is seventh in defensive rating (109.7) at home and first in rebounding percentage (54%).
And the Bucks can do it even without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. He should play tonight despite dealing with a knee injury, as he did play on Sunday. But even without him, the likes of Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton can get it done versus Charlotte.
Most notably, Milwaukee has a functioning offense at home. It’s why 17 of its 25 home games have gone over the total versus just eight of its 25 on the road. And against the spread (ATS), Milwaukee is 17-8 as a host. This team is a real contender in the sportsbook.
Hornets vs Bucks Game Injuries
Hornets vs Bucks Head-to-Head
Charlotte has played well against Milwaukee: 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games against the Bucks. When visiting, the totals have also gone over in five of their last six matchups.
Hornets vs Bucks Game Information
- Game: Hornets (15-36) vs Bucks (33-17)
- Location: Fiserve Forum, Milwaukee, WI
- Day/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 31st, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Hornets vs Bucks Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Hornets vs Bucks Betting Lines
Hornets vs Bucks Picks and Prediction
Typically, we’d say bet the Bucks or pass in this scenario. Charlotte has been good recently but gets dominated by big NBA teams thanks to its lack of a real big (sorry, Mason Plumlee). Instead, bet on the total to go under despite recent betting trends. The total is a tad too high and Milwaukee may just shut Charlotte down.
The Charlotte Hornets are listed at +450 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Hornets, you have a chance to win $450. The Milwaukee Bucks are -600, offering a chance to win $17 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Hornets an 18.18% chance to win, with the Bucks at 85.71%
Hornets vs Bucks Trends
Hornets vs Bucks Edge
Hornets vs Bucks Results
Hornets vs Bucks Game Summary
Hornets vs Bucks Previous Game (Dec. 03, 2022)
The Milwaukee Bucks go for a third straight win when they host the Charlotte Hornets in a battle of Eastern Conference squads on Friday night. Milwaukee is coming off an overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday and is sitting atop the Central Division by a half-game over the second-place Cleveland Cavaliers. Charlotte has lost three in a row and is in last place in the Southeast Division, trailing the fourth-place Orlando Magic by four games. Both teams can light it up when they’re hot, so check out our NBA betting preview to help with your wagering decisions.
Hornets vs Bucks Game Summary
