NBA Paris Game 2020: Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets - Predictions, Odds and How to Watch

What: Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets

Where: AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France

When: Friday, 24 January 2020, 3:00 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): NBATV, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Southeast – Charlotte | 620 AM/103.3 FM WTMJ, WFNZ 610 AM/102.5 FM

Overview

The NBA has made it a point to expand its reach over the last ten years. There are more international players than ever before, allowing for a connection to the league that hasn’t been seen in its history.

The 2020 NBA Paris Game will be the first time in history that the NBA will have a regular-season game hosted in Paris. Matches have previously been held in Tokyo, Mexico City, and London, but this will be the first time a match has been hosted in the French capital.

The NBA now has a historic 12 French players in the league. One of the best, Nicolas Batum, will be captaining the Charlotte Hornets in his home country.

France has been one of the powerhouses in international basketball for years. From Tony Parker to Rudy Gobert, France has always developed some of the best international players in the league.

When the Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets take each other on, there will be seven non-Americans available to play representing six different countries outside of the United States.

• (F) Giannis Antetokounmpo – Greece – Milwaukee Bucks
• (F) Thanasis Antetokounmpo – Greece – Milwaukee Bucks
• (F) Ersan Ilyasova – Turkey – Milwaukee Bucks
• (F) Dragan Bender – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Milwaukee Bucks
• (F) Nicolas Batum – France – Charlotte Hornets
• (C) Willy Hernangomez – Spain – Charlotte Hornets
• (C) Bismack Biyombo – the Democratic Republic of the Congo – Charlotte Hornets

Milwaukee Bucks (Away)

Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer {All-Time 312-225 | ATL, MIL}

Season Record: 39-6

Projected Starting Five: (G) Eric Bledsoe – (G) Wes Matthews – (F) Khris Middleton – (F) Giannis Antetokounmpo – (C) Brook Lopez

Top Performers

• (F) Giannis Antetokounmpo – 30.6 MPG | 30.0 PPG | 12.9 RPG | 5.6 RPG
• (F) Khris Middleton – 28.4 MPG | 19.5 PPG | 5.7 RPG | .421 3P%
• (G) Eric Bledsoe – 26.1 MPG | 14.8 PPG | 5.1 APG | 4.5 RPG

The Milwaukee Bucks are sitting comfortably at first in the Eastern Conference. With a record of 39-6, they are 7.5 games out from the second-place Miami Heat. They are a conference-best 18-4 away from home.

Milwaukee are coming off of a battering of the Chicago Bulls in their last game out. They defeated Chicago by 13 points and posted an offensive rating of 104.2 on the evening. They won three of four quarters, dominating from the start.

When the Milwaukee Bucks face-off with the Hornets in Paris, the Bucks will be taking on one of the NBA’s most energetic teams. While not incredibly skilled, the Hornets have the physical profile to compete with anyone in the league.

Charlotte Hornets (Home)

Head Coach: James Borrego {All-Time 64-93 | ORL, CHA}

Projected Starting Five: (G) Terry Rozier – (G) Devonte’ Graham – (F) Miles Bridges – (F) PJ Washington – (C) Cody Zeller

Season Record: 15-30

Top Performers

• (G) Devonte’ Graham – 35.2 MPG | 18.6 PPG | 7.7 APG | .386 3P%
• (G) Terry Rozier – 34.1 MPG | 17.9 PPG | 4.4 APG | 4.3 RPG
• F) PJ Washington – 30.5 MPG | 12.6 PPG | 5.5 RPG | .421 3P%

The Charlotte Hornets had a promising start to the season, but it was all downhill from there. Charlotte currently sits at eleventh in the Eastern conference with a record of 15-30. Despite this technically being a home game, where the Hornets are 7-14, they are 8-16 on the road.

Charlotte are on the worst losing streak of their season. Having suffered seven straight losses, the Hornets are coming off of back-to-back blowout losses to the Nuggets and the Magic.

They won’t receive in reprieve when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks. One of the best teams in the league on both ends of the court, the Hornets will need to contend with the Bucks in the paint as much as on the perimeter.

What’s at Stake?

Having met 113 times over the course of their regular-season rivalry, the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets have a competitive series. The Bucks lead the Hornets in the all-time series 58-55.

A win for the Milwaukee Bucks would only solidify their place at the top of the Eastern Conference and in the NBA.

A win for the Charlotte Hornets would bring them within a game of the tenth place team in the Eastern Conference.

Questions to Answer

Can the Milwaukee Bucks sort out their shooting?

Will Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham find the solution for the Hornets’ woes?

We are going to compare the Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets in an attempt to see who has the advantage in this matchup.

MIL: Size Matters

39-6.

The best from last night’s win: pic.twitter.com/stii1Jf8g7

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 21, 2020

For the Milwaukee Bucks, all things occur through Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 6-11 power forward is the lynchpin of their offense, providing size and skill that opens up the court for their entire team.

However, to beat the Hornets they will have to control the glass. The Hornets may rank 27th in rebounds per game, but they are seventh in offensive rebounds per game. Their ability to generate second opportunities can is what will keep them competitive against Milwaukee.

With Robin Lopez’s health in question, the paint duties fall to his brother Brook Lopez and Turkish forward Ersan Ilyasova. Giannis will attract a lot of attention on the boards, so their ability to support him on the glass will be crucial.

CHA: Steer the Deer

Block party with your host, Cody Zeller! #ThriceIsNicehttps://t.co/6hXc0Xd55Q

— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) March 20, 2016

It will be impossible for the Charlotte Hornets to slow down Antetokounmpo in a one-on-one setting. They would do better to try and manage his drives, in hopes of leading him toward their more adept shot-blockers.

Bismack Biyombo, PJ Washington, and Miles Bridges all seem to have springs in their legs and are able to take attempts out of the air with ease. While none average even a block per game, 0.9 BPG across the board, their ability on the help side will certainly help at the rim.

The risk will be protecting the three-point line. The Bucks are tenth in the NBA in three-point percentage at 36.1% per game. They may just change the Bucks from three, being in a foreign arena, in hopes that they can protect the inside.

MIL: If It Ain’t Broken, Don’t Fix It

Khris is ON FIRE ?

24 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST | 10-13 FG pic.twitter.com/dfmCLZ4fED

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 21, 2020

The Milwaukee Bucks, for being the best team in the league, operate one of the leagues’ simplest offensive systems. Operating off of hand-offs and screens, Antetokounmpo drives into the paint to open space for his shooters.

In their 13 point victory over the Bulls last time out, the Bucks’ shooting was fantastic. They were able to convert on 42.3% of their three-point attempts, led by veteran shooters Khris Middleton and Wes Matthews.

On a note for improvement, Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo were a combined 2-11 from deep against the Bulls. While the Greek Freak isn’t a consistent three-point shooter, more is expected of the veteran Lopez – who is a career 34% shooter from three.

We see you, Tae ?

⭐️: https://t.co/rpDLrJcgN2@Devonte4Graham | #AllFly pic.twitter.com/TlooDHymTy

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 20, 2020

The Charlotte Hornets are quite obvious in where their creativity comes from. Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier are their only creative sources, manufacturing most chances for their teammates or themselves.

Over the course of their seven-game losing streak, the Hornets’ backcourt has combined 35.3 points and 10.8 assists per game on 29.3 field-goal attempts per game. Owning an average of 1.2 points per field-goal attempt, the pair may need to take a different approach.

Their offensive orbit is one of their most valuable assets, drawing players to them. If they can get their teammates involved early, the Hornets may just be able to put together the team effort needed for an upset victory.

Milwaukee Bucks Roster Notes

(C) Robin Lopez – 20 Jan 2020 – Out (Illness) – The Bucks have listed Lopez as OUT for Monday’s game (Jan. 20) against the Bulls.

Charlotte Hornets Roster Notes

The Charlotte Hornets have no roster changes of note.

Head-to-Head: (C) Brook Lopez vs (C) Bismack Biyombo

The Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets have the matchup of the night in the paint, per se. Bismack Biyombo is one of the toughest interior defenders in the league and will be crucial to taking down the Bucks. But Brook Lopez is an excellent shooter who can draw his man out of the paint with ease.

(C) Brook Lopez (7-0, 270lb (213cm, 122kg) | Stanford | 11 Years)

Brook Lopez, more like Brook No-pez.

Five more swats for the @Bucks big man as Milwaukee improve to 38-6 on the season ?#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/o1Wne8lKvN

— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) January 19, 2020

After signing his extension, Brook Lopez hasn’t been the same player that he was last year for the Bucks. His shooting is down across the board, but he is still contributing in the points column because of his inside play.

Spacing for Giannis is the key to Lopez’s game. However, he’ll also have to command the paint against Biyombo. Lopez’s 2.6 blocks per game suggest he’s more than up to the task of taking on Charlotte’s high-flyers.

(C) Bismack Biyombo (6-8, 255lb (203cm, 115kg) | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 8 Years)

Charlotte Hornets’ Bismack Biyombo having a BLOCK PARTY on a Monday night in 41 degree Toronto! #CharlotteHornets pic.twitter.com/soC0MINHV1

— ??Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, M.A. (@ScoopB) October 23, 2018

Bismack Biyombo is one of the truest hustle players left in the NBA. Limited in almost every skill save for athleticism and shot-blocking, Biyombo has overcome his criticisms and become a very skilled defender.

It will be up to Biyombo to protect the paint when Giannis Antetokounmpo attacks. James Borrego will have the difficulty of asking Biyombo to either patrol the paint, or track Lopez if he goes out to the perimeter. His involvement on the defensive side will be crucial to their success against the Bucks.

Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets Predictions

Why the Milwaukee Bucks Will Win

The easiest way to put it is that the Bucks are significantly more talented than the Charlotte Hornets. But to exploit the Hornets where they’re strongest, in the paint, is how the Bucks can take this game. If they can get past the Charlotte rim-protectors, there’ll be no way to stop them.

Why the Charlotte Hornets Will Win

The Charlotte Hornets need to get their shooting in order if they want to defeat the Bucks in Paris. It is the best way to beat the Bucks’ length inside, but they’ll also have to stop the Bucks in the paint.

WSN’s Pick

The Milwaukee Bucks are loaded with talent and depth. The Charlotte Hornets don’t project to have anything that can truly change the game against Milwaukee’s immense size and drive-and-kick game.

WSN Picks: Milwaukee Bucks to defeat Charlotte Hornets.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets Odds

The odds for Bucks vs Hornets are provided by Unibet NJ, DraftKings Sportsbook, and 888Sport NJ.

Good luck!