Clippers vs. Bucks Prediction: Bucks Look for Sixth Straight Win

The Los Angeles Clippers (39-20) are going on the road on the second night of a back-to-back to take on the surging Milwaukee Bucks (40-21) on Monday evening.

The Clippers edged out the Minnesota Timberwolves by a single point in a gritty defensive battle last night, improving their record to 2-3 against the top four teams in the East. This narrow victory has added a layer of intrigue to the latest NBA Eastern Conference predictions, as analysts weigh how the conference's elite will handle the Clippers' defensive intensity, especially since Los Angeles has yet to face Milwaukee.

The Bucks won five straight games for the first time in the Doc Rivers era and finally seem to be playing closer to their full potential, though their defense is well ahead of their offense. They’re 2-2 against the top four teams in the Western Conference and can make a major statement by defending their home court.

This resurgence is particularly notable as the nba western conference odds currently favor the Oklahoma City Thunder to repeat as champions.

Here, we will go over the betting odds and share our favorite pick for the Clippers vs. Bucks matchup.

Clippers vs. Bucks Betting Odds for Monday, March 4

The Bucks are favored by 5.5 points against the Clippers on Monday. They only went 26-34-1 (43.3%) against the spread, 13-15-1 (46.4%) ATS as a home favorite, and 3-10 (23.1%) ATS with a rest advantage. However, they covered in five straight games.

The Clippers are 31-28 (52.5%) ATS, 4-6 (40%) ATS as a road underdog, and 5-10 (33.3%) ATS with a rest disadvantage. They covered in back-to-back but also in just three of their last 10 games.

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Clippers vs. Bucks Prediction

Los Angeles Clippers Preview

The Clippers played like the best team in the league for a couple of months shortly after the James Harden trade. They still have the second-best record in basketball (36-13) since Nov. 17, trailing only the Boston Celtics.

However, the Clippers’ reign of dominance was recently replaced by solid, but not overwhelming, performances. 

Over the last 15 games, LA has a point differential per 100 possessions of 0, 15th in the league during that time. They also ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency and 24th in rebound rate during that same time.

Although the offense is still humming (116.6 points per 100 possessions over the last 15 games - seventh), there are inconsistencies. James Harden, for example, went 0-10 from the field and 0-6 from three on Sunday night, just two days after he scored 28 points against the Washington Wizards.

Russell Westbrook also suffered a hand injury last week and will be gone for the foreseeable future, leaving Norman Powell firmly in charge of the second unit. The early return on that was positive, as all four members of the Clippers bench had a +/- of at least +8 against the Wolves.

LA is third in three-point percentage (38.9%) and ninth in three-point percentage allowed (35.7%). They’ve also been a strong road team (+3.2 net rating - fifth) but will be in for a battle after last night’s effort.

Milwaukee Bucks Preview

The Bucks pivoted away from Adrian Griffin and to Doc Rivers with the intent of fixing their defense. Although their overall record still isn’t impressive, they allowed the fifth-fewest points per 100 possessions over their last 15 outings and look like a more cohesive unit rather than a collection of individuals.

Although the offense ranks just 18th in overall efficiency (115 points per 100 possessions) during that time, they have been able to reliably go to the high screen game with Damian Lillard as the ball handler and Brook Lopez or Giannis Antetokounmpo as the screener. 

For as tall as Milwaukee is, they’re a subpar rebounding team—but to their credit, they rarely give away possessions and have the fifth-best turnover percentage. 

The Bucks rank sixth in three-point shooting (37.6), although they haven’t been great from range as a team lately.

The team’s recent five-game winning streak, while impressive, does not answer all of their questions. They beat the Charlotte Hornets twice and the slumping and Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers once. Their road win against the Minnesota Timberwolves was undoubtedly the best of Doc’s tenure, but it was also the first game after the All-Star break and gave them time to rest and spend extra time game planning.

Giannis is questionable for this game with Achilles tendonitis. He scored 46 points on 72.7% shooting against the Chicago Bulls in his last game and averaged 29.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in February. 

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Clippers vs. Bucks Betting Pick

This game is tough to call. While the Bucks look much better recently, they haven’t proven they’re trustworthy over the long haul. Meanwhile, LA hasn’t been great recently but is one of the best road teams and has been all year, though they have a two-day rest disadvantage.

Kawhi Leonard in his last five matchups with Giannis has not cracked 25 points, and Paul George in his last four did not hit even 20. That combined with the Bucks’ newfound confidence on defense and freshness could be enough to make the difference.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see this one come down to the wire, but we like the Bucks to win and cover at home.

• Clippers vs. Bucks pick: Bucks -5.5 at BetMGM

How to Watch Clippers vs. Bucks

• When: Monday, 7:00/8:00 p.m. CT/ET

• Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

• TV: NBA TV

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