The Milwaukee Bucks try to extend their five-game winning streak when they take on the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. The opening tip for this contest is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET at Ball Arena in Denver.
The Bucks have been hot, winning all five games of a homestand to improve to 11-8. Milwaukee is in second place in the Central Division, trailing the first-place Chicago Bulls by one game and leading the third-place Cleveland Cavaliers by two games.
Denver has been going in the opposite direction, losing five straight to fall to 9-9. The Nuggets are tied for third place in the Northwest Division with the Minnesota Timberwolves, with both teams just a half-game behind the second-place Portland Trail Blazers.
If you want to bet online on this contest, the NBA lines have the Bucks as 3½-point favorites on the road, with the over/under set at 214. If you’re making a moneyline bet, you will get Milwaukee at -155, while Denver is listed at +135.
Leading the Way
Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been extremely good during the Bucks’ five-game winning streak, averaging 29.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.6 steals. He had 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals in a Wednesday win over the Detroit Pistons.
“I think overall we’re feeling good,” Antetokounmpo said after Wednesday’s win. “Like once you start winning, you know, you’re going to step on the court with a different swag, you know? So I’m happy there. I’m happy. I’m happy.
“We’re building some good habits here. And defensively, we’re building good habits, and offensively we’re moving the ball and finding the open man. Guys are making shots.”
Still working his way back is forward Khris Middleton, who is averaging 17.1 points overall but just 13.6 points since sitting out for three weeks after testing positive for COVID-19. Middleton is shooting just 38.6 percent from the field in his five games back, so the potential for Milwaukee to be even better is there.
Guard Grayson Allen has fit in well in his first season with the defending NBA champions, providing some of the outside shooting that has been missing in Middleton’s absence. Allen is averaging 14.4 points and connecting on 42.3 percent of his 3-point attempts as the only Bucks player to start every game.
Will He Return?
The Nuggets have been playing without the reigning NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic, who has been out since Nov. 18 with a wrist injury. He’s listed as questionable for this contest and Denver’s hopes of being competitive with the Bucks hinge on his availability.
Jokic is averaging 26.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists to lead the Nuggets in all three categories. He’s needed to be the center of the Nuggets show with guard Jamal Murray still sidelined with a knee injury that ended his 2020-21 campaign.
Denver’s depth was hurt a little bit with the loss of guard P.J. Dozier, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Tuesday’s loss to the Trail Blazers. Dozier, Murray and Michael Porter Jr. (lower back) are all out, making it more imperative that Jokic return as soon as possible.
Bucks Roll To Win
Even if Jokic is able to play, he won’t be able to match the depth of the Bucks’ lineup. Milwaukee is putting things together and looking like the title contender it was expected to be at the beginning of the season. The Nuggets just don’t have enough to stay in this one long.
When making your NBA bets, take Milwaukee to win and cover on the road.
