The Milwaukee Bucks head out to Atlanta to take on the Hawks in a highly touted Eastern Conference matchup on Thursday night. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Bucks-Hawks prediction and pick.
These two teams are currently in a battle for the third seed in the Eastern Conference standings. Milwaukee is coming off a huge 25-point win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their last game. Atlanta has been scorching of late, winning seven of the last eight games coming in.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Bucks-Hawks odds.
NBA Odds: Bucks-Hawks Odds
Milwaukee Bucks -4 (-108)
Over 230 Points (-110)
Under 230 Points (-110)
Why The Bucks Could Cover The Spread
The Bucks haven't quite lived up to their standards of late, thanks in large part to the multitude of injuries they've faced. They have won two straight games and will hope to ride the momentum into this crucial game against Atlanta. Kris Middleton led the way for the Bucks in the recent win with 27 points. He is averaging 20.3 points per game this season and will be crucial for Milwaukee down the stretch.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has dominated when healthy this season, but he has missed six straight games with a knee injury. If he somehow makes his return, that will obviously provide a huge boost to Milwaukee. The Bucks are averaging 119.2 points per game on 48.5% shooting from the field and an impressive 39.3% from beyond the arc. They have also been great on the boards, snaring 48.2 rebounds per game. Milwaukee has won five straight games against Atlanta.
Why The Hawks Could Cover The Spread
The Hawks have been one of the hottest teams in the league. No one would've predicted that they'd be this close (just 4.5 games back now) to the Bucks for the No. 3 seed at this point in the season. The Hawks defeated the Toronto Raptors by just five points in their last game and struggled throughout. To their credit, Trae Young was out with a calf injury and is expected to return for Thursday's game. Young is the catalyst for the Hawks with his 25.4 points and 9.5 assists per game.
Atlanta's run has been extremely impressive because of the team's extensive injury list. Guys like John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Cam Reddish, and many more have been regulars on that list for quite some time now, with the aforementioned Young also hurting. This team just continues to win games and find key contributions down the line. The Hawks have a statement game ahead of them as they look to get over the hump and solidify their case as a threat in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games at home.
Final Bucks-Hawks Prediction & Pick
This game is guaranteed to feature a playoff atmosphere as we get closer and closer to May. I'm confident that many of the Hawks' top players will find a way to suit up for a crucial matchup with the Bucks. The line opened at Hawks +7 and has since moved to Hawks +4. The Bucks' issues have been concerning, and there are still questions about whether or not Giannis will play. I'm going to ride with the home team that is playing great basketball of late.
FINAL PICK: Atlanta Hawks +4 (-112)
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