Milwaukee Hosts Los Angeles In Battle Of Playoff Teams
The Milwaukee Bucks go for a third straight win – and a tie atop the Eastern Conference standings – when they host the LA Clippers in a key contest on Friday night. The Clippers are coming off an overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night but have already clinched a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament. The Bucks are a half-game behind the Miami Heat for the top spot in the East after an overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. This will be a good one, so make sure you check out our in-depth preview for some guidance on how to bet online on the game.
Let’s check the latest NBA Picks, stats, injury reports, and NBA Odds for Clippers vs Bucks. We’ve plenty of NBA Predictions.
Clippers In Middle Of Rough Stretch
The LA Clippers will play their eighth straight game against a playoff team on Friday night, and they’ve dropped six of the first seven games in that stretch. This is the team’s last road game of the season, however, the return of guard Paul George has the Clippers feeling like they’re more ready for the postseason.
George missed three months of the season with an elbow injury but returned for Tuesday’s home win over the Utah Jazz. George scored 34 points in that game, then followed it up with 22 points in Thursday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. On the season, George is averaging 24.9 points, and he was the catalyst for the team’s run to the Western Conference finals last season.
Guard Reggie Jackson has been the team’s leading scorer with George sidelined, and he continued to show his offensive potential with 34 points and seven assists in Thursday’s setback. Jackson is averaging 17.2 points and 4.8 assists this season, and he’ll continue to be aggressive looking for his shot even with George back.
Forward Marcus Morris Sr. has also stepped up his role this season, and he had 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists on Thursday. Morris is an inside presence and solid defender, averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 2021-22.
Bucks Hitting Their Stride At Right Time
The LA Clippers gave up 50 points to Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, and now they have to deal with the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time NBA MVP is looking like he’s ready to lead the Bucks to another long playoff run, as he’s coming off a 44-point performance in the win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
Antetokounmpo hit a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation that sent the game into overtime and made him the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, passing Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Still, the reigning Finals MVP is focused on the postseason right now, not scoring records.
“When I’m done, we can talk about it, but now, there’s no time,” Antetokounmpo said after Thursday’s win. “There are things that have to be done.”
If there’s something to be done for the Bucks, it’s usually Antetokounmpo doing it. He’s second in the league in scoring at 30.1 points per game, fifth in rebounding at 11.7 per contest, and is tied for 22nd in assists with 5.8 a night.
Forward Khris Middleton is a solid No. 2 to Antetokounmpo, though he saw his night against the Nets end early when he was tossed for a flagrant foul on Brooklyn’s Bruce Brown. Middleton is averaging 20.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game this season, and he should be looking to make up for his absence down the stretch on Thursday in this one.
Clippers vs Bucks Head-to-Head
The Milwaukee Bucks dominated in the matchup of the season between these teams, topping the LA Clippers by 24 in Los Angeles in early February. George wasn’t playing at that point, but it’s still a telling result when looking at this matchup.
Los Angeles won at home against the Bucks last season, but that is the only victory in the last six games between these teams for the Clippers. Milwaukee is looking like the defending NBA champs these days, which is why the NBA lines are favoring them in this one.
Clippers vs Bucks Game Information
- Game: LA Clippers (37-40) vs Milwaukee Bucks (48-28)
- Location: Fiserv Forum
- Day/Time: Friday, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Clippers vs Bucks Betting Lines
Clippers vs Bucks Prediction
This could be a potential letdown for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have defeated the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets in their last two games, but with first place in the East at stake, it’s hard to see them letting this one get away. The LA Clippers are trying to get back the chemistry with George in the lineup, but they’re going to have troubles in this one, as Milwaukee wins easily
When making your NBA picks, take Milwaukee to win and cover at home.
Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -7½ (-110)
