The Orlando Magic (17-9) and Milwaukee Bucks (12-11) will meet in the NBA Cup quarterfinals tonight.
Bucks Picks, Prediction Spread My Bucks vs. Magic best bet is on Milwaukee to cover the spread (-7), with the best line available at Caesars.
Bucks spread: Bucks -7 Magic vs.
Bucks moneyline: Magic +230, Bucks -285 Magic vs.
Best Bet: Bucks -7 (-110) Same Game Parlay: Bucks Moneyline, Giannis Antetokounmpo 30+ Points, Mo Wagner 10+ Points (+212)
Tonight’s NBA Cup quarterfinals matchup will pit the Milwaukee Bucks (12-11) against the Orlando Magic (17-9) team. At 7 p.m., tipoff is scheduled. m. ET in Milwaukee at the Fiserv Forum. TNT will carry live coverage of the match.
The Bucks are 7 points ahead of the Magic at home (Bucks -7), and the over/under is set at 215 points. Orlando has a +230 chance to pull off the upset, while Milwaukee is a -285 favorite to win absolutely.
Now, let’s compare my Magic to… Tuesday, December 10 NBA picks and Bucks predictions.
Magic versus. Bucks Picks, Forecast.
Distribute.
My Bucks versus. With Caesars offering the best line, Magic’s best wager is on Milwaukee to cover the spread (-7). As usual, though, use our live NBA odds page to shop for the best deal.
Moneyline.
As for my moneyline pick for this contest, I have none. In a different market, though, I’ll be betting on the Bucks tonight.
Over/Under.
In this place, I’m avoiding the total.
My prediction is Bucks -7.
Magic versus. The Bucks spread is -7.
Magic versus. 215, Bucks over/under.
Magic versus. Moneyline for Bucks: Magic +230, Bucks -285.
Magic versus. Bucks -7 is the best wager.
The NBA Cup Quarterfinals matchup between the Magic and the Bucks is a story of two teams with opposing injury fortunes. Khris Middleton (ankle) was just returned to the Bucks, and while Giannis (knee) is also listed as probable for this game, it would be absolutely stunning if he did not play.
As for the Magic, they will have fewer offensive options on that end of the court because Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are both sidelined due to oblique injuries. Additionally, Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) is doubtful for this game and Gary Harris (hamstring) will miss it.
This season, the Magic’s offense has been their biggest problem. According to Dunks and Threes, their second-ranked Defensive Rating (107.1) has helped them climb to 23rd place in Adjusted Offensive Rating (110.5). According to Cleaning the Glass, the team scored only 100 points per 100 possessions when Franz and Paolo were off the court, resulting in an -8 point difference.
Even so, the defense’s mark during those minutes remained in the 78th percentile. I would anticipate a comparable distribution of minutes and usage here, as Jalen Suggs (32 points, 5 percent), Mo Wagner (28 points, 2 percent), and Goga Bitadze (26 points, 4 percent) led the Magic’s usage in the most recent game against the Suns.
Throughout the season, Giannis has been playing at an MVP level for the Bucks. Even though this is a difficult game on paper, Giannis consistently seems to get past Orlando’s defense. He is averaging 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. With 37, 35, 31, and 34 points in those games, he has dominated Orlando in the past two seasons. Giannis has surpassed this total in 67 percent of games this season, so I’ll pick him to score 30+ points (-120 FD).
Even though Orlando’s defense can usually keep them in any game, the Bucks’ offense is clicking right now, scoring 119 points per 100 possessions over the past two weeks. Orlando has also had a difficult time against teams ranked in the top 10 offensively.
They have a -13 point, 9 point gap and are only 1-5. Despite their struggles against elite defenses, I don’t think the Bucks will be able to produce enough reliable offense in this position given Orlando’s injuries.
I will explain the situation to Milwaukee. I would also play Mo Wagner 10+ points, Giannis 30+ points, and Bucks ML for an SGP.
The best wager is Bucks -7 (-110).
The same game parlay: Mo Wagner 10+ points (+212), Giannis Antetokounmpo 30+ points, and Bucks moneyline.
