The Brooklyn Nets visit Fiserv Forum to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday evening. Brooklyn is 18-13 on the road and 31-29 overall this season, though the Nets have struggled in recent days as a result of injury issues. Milwaukee is 20-11 at home and 36-24 overall in advance of this nationally televised showdown. Kevin Durant (knee), Ben Simmons (reconditioning), and Joe Harris (ankle) are out for Brooklyn. Brook Lopez (back) and Pat Connaughton (finger) are out for Milwaukee.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as a 9.5-point home favorite for this 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 237 in the latest Nets vs. Bucks odds at Caesars Sportsbook. Before making any Bucks vs. Nets picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 69-41 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nets vs. Bucks, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Bucks vs. Nets:
- Nets vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -9.5
- Nets vs. Bucks over-under: 237 points
- Nets vs. Bucks money line: Bucks -475, Nets +360
- BKN: The Nets are 14-20-1 against the spread in conference games
- MIL: The Bucks are 16-23 against the spread in conference games
Featured Game | Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets
Why the Nets can cover
Brooklyn stands out in key categories on both ends of the floor. The Nets are solidly above-average in offensive rating, scoring more than 1.11 points per possession. Brooklyn is in the top five of the NBA in free-throw accuracy, making 80.5 percent of attempts, and the Nets are in the top 10 in field-goal percentage (46.6 percent) and assists (24.8 per game). The Nets are above-average on the offensive glass in securing 27.4 percent of available rebounds, and the Bucks rank in the bottom 10 of the NBA in blocked shots, 3-pointers allowed and assists allowed on defense.
Brooklyn is also very good at contesting 3-point attempts, with opponents shooting just 33.5 percent from long distance. That ranks No. 3 in the NBA, and the Nets are above the NBA average in field-goal percentage allowed and assists allowed. Milwaukee is No. 20 in the league in assists per game on offense.
Why the Bucks can cover
The Bucks are playing at a high level this season, with tremendous metrics on both sides of the floor. Milwaukee is also playing a Brooklyn team that has lost 13 of the last 15 games, and the Nets are a different team when shorthanded to that degree. Brooklyn has been outscored by 9.6 points per 100 possessions over that 15-game sample and, for the full season, the Nets are below-average on defense and just No. 24 in the NBA in turnover creation.
Milwaukee’s offense should be comfortable as a result, and the Bucks are scoring 112.5 points per 100 possessions for the season. The Bucks rank in the top 10 in free-throw creation, 2-point accuracy, 3-point accuracy, fast-break points and turnover rate on offense. Milwaukee is also limiting opponents to less than 45 percent shooting on defense, with top-six marks in defensive rebound rate, fast-break points allowed and points allowed in the paint.
How to make Nets vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting 232 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 70 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Bucks vs. Nets? And which side of the spread hits in almost 70 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.