The Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks meet in a heavyweight showdown at the Fiserv Forum on Tuesday night. Golden State is in town following a big win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. We have our Warriors vs. Bucks predictions and best bets for this TNT matchup.
The Warriors won the NBA Finals rematch against the Celtics, but now they take on the 2021 champs in Milwaukee. This game represents a battle between the two previous NBA champions. The most recent champs have gotten off to a slow start, while the Bucks are in good shape.
"It went in?"
Stephen's the ultimate showman ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/yR2ZwwzWN6
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 12, 2022
via@warriors
Golden State is going into Milwaukee with a record of 14-13. They have looked bored at times after winning their fourth NBA championship since 2015. Despite the slow start this season, expect the Warriors to get red-hot at some point this season.
When the games begin to mean more, the competitive spirit of the Warriors should emerge. Conversely, the Bucks have been playing pretty good basketball for most of the season. They are going into Tuesday night off a bad loss, though.
The Bucks were 97-92 losers at Houston on Sunday. It is not like Giannis Antetokounmpo had the game off. An ankle injury to Khris Middleton after just 6 minutes on the floor might have impacted the game plan, though.
What a night for @JalenGreen 👏
📊 30 PTS 7 REB 3 AST pic.twitter.com/do5v0q3QLs
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 12, 2022
via@HoustonRockets
Bobby Portis came off the bench for a pretty nice effort, but the guard play was lackluster. He put in 17 points and grabbed 15 boards. Middleton is currently being evaluated and is unlikely to start tonight.
Head below for our best Warriors vs. Bucks betting pick and predictions for December 13, 2022.
Golden State Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks Live Betting Odds:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | +3.5 (-110) | +135 | OFF |
| Milwaukee Bucks | -3.5 (-110) | -160 | OFF |
| Team Data | Golden State Warriors | Milwaukee Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 14-13 | 19-7 |
| ATS Record | 13-14-0 | 14-10-2 |
| Away/Home Record | 2-11 | 12-3 |
| ATS Away/Home | 3-10-0 | 10-5-0 |
| Points Per Game | 117.6 | 112.0 |
| Points Against Per Game | 116.1 | 107.5 |
| Field Goal % | 48.1 | 45.6 |
| Three Point % | 37.6 | 35.0 |
Warriors vs. Bucks Predictions
The Bucks have gotten used to playing without Khris Middleton this season. He has been inactive for most of this season. The talented shooter missed all of November and has played in only five games.
Middleton was unable to make it all the way through his fifth game in the 2022-23 season. The offense has been well off the mark and Middleton’s absence has something to do with the inconsistent scoring. The same can’t be said for the defense.
Bucks’ Defense In Postseason Form
There is little doubt that the Bucks are playing with energy on the defensive end. They are fast and have length all over the floor. It is incredibly difficult to get a clean shot off against the Bucks.
The Warriors clearly have a talented offense to counter the Bucks. That being said, this is a Bucks’ defense that can put the brakes on just about any team in the NBA.
Milwaukee leads the league with a field goal percentage against of 44.6%. They have conceded an average of 107.5 points per game going into Tuesday evening. Holding the Golden State shooters in check is a prerequisite to beating this team.
Dominating the boards and not allowing the Warriors to get second chances also helps. The Warriors are below average in rebounding, especially defensively. The Warriors are 21st in defensive rebounding, while the Bucks are second on the offensive boards.
Road Woes For The Dubs
It has been tough going for the Warriors on the road this season. They dropped their 11th game on the season five days ago in Utah. The Jazz got the upset in a nail-biter by a score of 124-23.
With the loss, the Warriors are 2-11 on the road this season. The offense has been scoring, but defensively, the Warriors are way too careless. Missing assignments and getting pushed around have been common.
Playing passively is not how to beat the Bucks in Milwaukee. Going into the Fiserv Forum, the Warriors have allowed an average of 122.8 points per game on the road.
Those are not insignificant numbers. Teams are shooting a whopping 48.9% against the Warriors at home. The Bucks are just scoring 112 points overall per game, but that number goes up to 117.2 points a game on 47.7% shooting at home.
Warriors vs. Bucks Betting Pick:
Following a 97-92 loss at Houston to end a four-game winning streak, the Bucks should respond well on Tuesday night. It is fair to suggest that the Bucks were looking ahead to the Warriors game.
Middleton’s status for tonight is not clear, but the Bucks have been doing well in his absence. The Bucks won four straight games to close out November and into this month without Middleton. Expect Giannis to dominate the inside around the rim in this one.
You can’t skip steps. Keep building. pic.twitter.com/89eJoIBpNN
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) December 12, 2022
via@Giannis_An34
Relying on the Warriors this season on the road has been impossible. They have not won a road game since their second on November 27 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bucks should edge away late.
For our Warriors vs. Bucks prediction, we are looking at a 116-110 win and cover for the Bucks.
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