CLEVELAND CAVALIERS VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS – ODDS & PREDICTIONS FOR JANUARY 24, 2024

Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Latest Basketball News. One of the games on tap from Wednesday’s slate features the Cleveland Cavaliers (26-15 SU, 22-17-2 ATS) taking on the Milwaukee Bucks (30-13 SU, 16-27 ATS).

Here is a look at which team has the edge going into this matchup and why.

Tipoff

• When: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
  
• Time: 8:00 PM ET
  
• Where: Fiserv Forum
  
• Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  
• TV: BSWI and BSOH

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Odds (Via DrafKings)

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks – Regular Season Stats & Betting Trends

The Cavaliers’ Defense Will Be Tested Against The High-Scoring Bucks

Cleveland Cavaliers Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 114.0 PPG – 19TH       
• Offensive Efficiency: 115.7 points per 100 possessions – 16TH         
• Scoring Defense: 109.7 PPG – 2ND        
• Defensive Efficiency: 111.3 points per 100 possessions – 3RD   

The Cavaliers are playing extremely well as of late. They have produced eight wins in their last 10 games. They have posted wins in each of their last eight outings, and they have ascended to the fourth spot in the conference playoff race. Simply put, this team is hot right now.

In their last outings, the Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic by a 126-99 margin. Sam Merrill – who is averaging 8.8 points per contest – came off the bench and scored a team-high 26 points to go along with three rebounds. 

Donovan Mitchell added 25 points and 13 assists. Jarrett Allen contributed 14 points, 11 boards, and four assists. Allen also recorded two blocked shots as well. 

“Our defense has been incredible, our guys have been elite at that end of the floor,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, via CBS Sports. “We’re fortunate that we have guys who are versatile and have guys who can guard multiple positions.”

The Cavaliers have a top-five defense, and they led by as many as 36 points in this contest. A matchup featuring one of the top-scoring teams in the league going up against one of the top defensive teams in the league makes for good television. 

Can The Bucks Slow Down The Cavaliers?

Milwaukee Bucks Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 124.6 PPG – 2ND     
• Offensive Efficiency: 121.4 points per 100 possessions – 2ND      
• Scoring Defense: 120.5 PPG – 25TH       
• Defensive Efficiency: 117.4 points per 100 possessions – 21ST     

Meanwhile, at 30-13, the Bucks have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and the league as well. However, it wasn’t enough as the team decided to part ways with first-year coach Adrian Griffin.

Milwaukee is 6-4 across its last 10 outings and they enter this matchup riding a modest two-game winning streak. This includes a 122-113 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks’ offense with 31 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. Just for good measure, let’s also mention that he had three steals and two blocks.

“Giannis just took over the game in the last five minutes,” former Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said after the game. “He’s a phenomenal player, but he’s also a winning player who makes winning plays when we need them. He got to the line, he found open teammates, he got on the offensive glass, and he was getting stops and blocks at the other end.”

Khris Middleton finished with 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Damian Lillard contributed 17 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. 

While the Bucks have dipped from a defensive standpoint, they are three games better in the standings at the 43-game mark than they were last season. Only time will tell if firing the head coach midway through the season was the right move for this ball club. 

Now that we have set the table for this matchup, let us closely examine the all-important betting trends for both sides.

The Picks

The Spread

The Bucks opened at a seven-point favorite. At the time of this writing, the line has moved to 6.5 points.

Here is a look at how both teams have fared against the spread this season. 

• The Cavaliers have covered the spread in each of their last five outings.
• Cleveland is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 matchups against Milwaukee.
• The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games.
• Cleveland is 7-0 ATS in its last seven matchups against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Meanwhile, the Bucks are 0-5 ATS in their last five games.
• Milwaukee is just 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games.
• The Bucks are 1-5 ATS in their last six games against Eastern Conference teams. 

Based on these trends, along with how well Cleveland has been playing, going with the road team to cover is the better option. 

Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers (+6.5)

Over/Under

The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 238 points. The line recently moved to 236 points (via pre-game.com). Here is why going with the “UNDER” is the smart choice. 

• The total has gone UNDER four times in the Cavaliers’ last five games.
• The UNDER total has prevailed in each of Cleveland’s last six matchups against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The total has gone UNDER nine times in the Bucks’ last 13 games against Cleveland.
• In Milwaukee’s last six matchups against Central Division opponents, the UNDER total cashed in four times.

Prediction: UNDER 236 points

Player Prop Bets

The key player to watch for the road team is Donovan Mitchell. He currently has -125 odds of scoring more than 31.5 points and -105 odds of finishing with less than 31.5 points (Via DraftKings). Here is a closer look at how his numbers compare to the projected points total for this matchup. 

• On the season, Mitchell is averaging 27.8 points per outing. 
• In 15 road games, he is averaging 26 PPG.
• Mitchell has played against Eastern Conference teams 22 times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 28.1 points per outing.
• In five matchups against Central Division teams, he is averaging 31.4 PPG.
• Over his last 10 games, Mitchell is averaging 27.8 points per game, exceeding the points total for this matchup three times during that stretch.

Going with the “under” for Mitchell is the best option based on the above trends.

Prediction: Donovan Mitchell UNDER 31.5 points

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable for this contest. With that in mind, the player to watch for the home team is Damian Lillard. He currently has -125 odds of scoring more than 25.5 points and -105 odds of scoring less than 25.5 points. Let’s see how his numbers stack up against the projected points total for this matchup. 

• On the season, Lillard is averaging 25.3 points per outing. 
• In 22 home games, he is averaging 26 PPG.
• Lillard has played against Eastern Conference teams 32 times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 24.2 points per outing.
• In 13 matchups against Central Division teams, Lillard is averaging 23.2 PPG.
• Over his last 10 outings, he is averaging 23.5 points per outing, exceeding the projected points total for this matchup three times during that stretch. 

Given the above trends, going with the “under” for Lillard is the best option.

Prediction: Damian Lillard UNDER 25.5 points

James’s Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Picks

• The Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers (+6.5)
• Over/Under: Under 236 points
• Player Prop Bet #1: Donovan Mitchell Under 31.5 points
• Player Prop Bet #2: Damian Lillard Under 25.5 points