The Oklahoma City Thunder (36-8) are set to face off against the Milwaukee Bucks (18-24) on Wednesday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with tip-off scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET. This matchup follows a notable season series in which the Thunder swept the Bucks 2-0 in the previous season.
Oklahoma City is entering this game fresh off a commanding 136-104 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, covering the spread as a 6-point road favorite. Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 30 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 28 points. The Thunder showcased their defensive prowess by forcing 21 turnovers, resulting in 23 points from those opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Bucks managed to secure a narrow 112-110 win over the Atlanta Hawks, successfully covering as a 1.5-point road underdog. Giannis Antetokounmpo spearheaded the effort with 21 points and 17 rebounds, supported by a balanced offensive attack from his teammates. Milwaukee excelled in the paint, outscoring Atlanta 52-38 and taking advantage of turnovers to add 16 points to their tally.
As for the betting odds, BetMGM Sportsbook lists the Thunder as significant favorites with a moneyline of -425, indicating a bet of $425 would yield $100 in profits. The Bucks sit at +320, suggesting a $100 bet would net $320 if they win. The spread is set at Thunder -9.5 (-110), with the over/under for the game at 226.5.
In terms of player availability, the Thunder will miss guard Alex Caruso (hip), center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf), forward Jalen Williams (hamstring), and forward Jaylin Williams (glute). The Bucks are monitoring the status of guard Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique) and center Myles Turner (ankle), both of whom are questionable, while forward Taurean Prince (neck) has been ruled out.
Predictions for the game lean toward a Thunder victory, projected at 108-100. However, the recommendation suggests avoiding heavy favorites like Oklahoma City and instead betting on the spread or total. Given injuries for the Thunder and Milwaukee’s recent performance, there is a slight inclination toward taking the Bucks +9.5, especially since they’ve managed to cover in two of the last three encounters when playing at home against Oklahoma City.
Betting on the under at 226.5 is also advised, as this has been a successful play in recent matchups—highlighted by a trend of unders hitting in four of the last five games for Milwaukee and in seven of their last ten meetings with the Thunder. With Oklahoma City’s strong defensive statistics, the under appears to be a prudent choice for this game.
The matchup promises to be competitive, showcasing the ongoing journey of both teams as they aim to solidify their standings in the NBA this season.