The Milwaukee Bucks are out of playoff contention but they are still one of the most entertaining teams to watch this season. The development of Milwaukee’s young talents continue later tonight when they welcome LeBron James and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Read on for more about this matchup. You can also check out our preview for the Timberwolves vs. Warriors.
Without a doubt, LeBron James is playoff ready. The Cavs superstar had another terrific outing Sunday, recording all-around numbers of 31 points, eight rebounds, and 12 assists to help Cleveland earn a 112-103 home victory over Charlotte.
James has averaged 28.0 points, 9.3 boards, and 10.6 assists over his last three games and he’s likely going to get great numbers again later tonight against a Milwaukee side that doesn’t seem to have an idea how to stop him. In three meetings with the Bucks thus far this season, James put up averages of 30.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
James, however, isn’t the only problem for the Bucks. As a team, the Cavs have made 11.7 threes this season against Milwaukee. Expect the Cavs to get lots of attempts from beyond the arc opposite Milwaukee’s defense that allows 9.2 triples per contest.
Kevin Love is also poised to make another great performance against Milwaukee. Love teamed up with James in the Cavs’ 113-104 win over Milwaukee on March 24, scoring 24 points with four threes. James, on the other hand, notched 26 markers.
Cleveland is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games versus the Bucks dating back to 2013.
The Bucks are coming off a 102-98 loss to Chicago on Sunday and it won’t get any easier for them as they face Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland later tonight.
That being said, the Bucks have given Cleveland fits in previous meetings this season. The Bucks are even 2-1 ATS in the last three outings against the Cavs. That includes a gutsy 108-105 double overtime victory over Cleveland on November 14.
In that game, all five of the Bucks’ starters scored in double figures. Two of those players (Michael Carter-Williams and Khris Middleton) are likely out tonight due to injuries.
That means a lot will be riding on the shoulders of Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The duo was exceptional in the loss to the Bulls combining for 58 points and 16 boards. Parker is averaging 21.0 points over his last five games, while Antetokounmpo has 16.2 in his last four.
The young Bucks should be looking to run against Cleveland, as they are 10th in the NBA with 13.8 fastbreak points per outing.
Milwaukee is 2-1 ATS in its last three home games.
