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Milwaukee Bucks vs Washington-Wizards December 21st 2024
At 8:00 ET, the Bucks (-680) will host the Wizards (+485) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The over/under line is set at 224.5.
Washington is 15th in the East with a 4-21 record, while Milwaukee is 5th in the conference at 14-12.
Wizards vs. Bucks Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Washington Wizards at Milwaukee Bucks
- Where: Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum
- Date: Saturday, December 21st
- Betting Odds MIL -11.5, WAS +485 | MIL -680 O/U 224.5
The Wizards Can Win If…
Washington improved to 4-21 on the season with a 123-114 win over the Hornets on Thursday. The Wizards, who were +3.5 point underdogs at home, not only won but covered the spread. The total points for the game reached 237, surpassing the over/under line of 226.
After trailing 30-29 at the end of the 1st quarter, Washington took a 31-28 edge in the 2nd. Charlotte edged them 28-27 in the 3rd, but the Wizards dominated the 4th, outscoring the Hornets 36-28. A key 15-0 run turned an 86-82 deficit into a 97-86 lead for Washington.
In their win over the Hornets, the Wizards connected on 17 threes, shooting 40.5% from deep and 49.4% overall. Jordan Poole led the way with 27 points, hitting 5 threes at a 50% clip, while Malcolm Brogdon added 25 points, shooting 60% from beyond the arc.
Poole scored 10 points in the 1st quarter and added 9 more in the 4th. Alex Sarr also contributed 9 points in the final period, finishing with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
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Defensively, the Wizards gave up 114 points but held the Hornets to 28 points in each of the final three quarters. Charlotte shot 40% from the field.
Washington did an excellent job defending the three, limiting the Hornets to 8 made threes on 18% shooting. The Wizards also recorded 8 blocks in the game.
- Across their ten previous road games, Washington has an ATS mark of 3-6-1. Their straight up record in these matchups was 0-10 while averaging 105 points per game.
- Looking back on the team’s last three games as the underdog, the Wizards have a straight up record of 1-2. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-0.
- Over their last five games, the Wizards have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 4-1 vs. the spread.
The Bucks Can Win If…
The Bucks fell to 14-12 on the season after a 124-101 road loss to the Cavaliers on Friday. Milwaukee entered the game as +8.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 225, just over the pregame line of 221.
Cleveland took control early, outscoring Milwaukee 29-20 in the 1st quarter and 40-31 in the 2nd. A 12-0 run by the Cavs extended their lead from 98-76 to 110-76 before the Bucks won the 4th quarter 25-21.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 33 points and 14 rebounds in their 124-101 loss to the Cavaliers, shooting 59.1% from the field. Khris Middleton added 14 points, while Brook Lopez contributed 10 points, hitting 2 threes at a 66.7% rate.
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As a team, Milwaukee made just 10 threes, shooting 37% from deep and 47.1% overall. Giannis scored 13 points in the 2nd quarter and 15 more in the 3rd.
Defensively, the Bucks struggled in the 2nd quarter, giving up 40 points, and allowed 124 points overall in their loss to the Cavaliers. Milwaukee gave up 34 points in the 3rd quarter but tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 21 points.
The Cavaliers shot 50% from the field, including 42% from three, where they hit 20 threes. The Bucks sent Cleveland to the line 14 times, where they made 12 free throws. Milwaukee finished with 35 defensive rebounds, allowing 9 offensive boards, while also recording 14 steals and 4 blocks.
- Across their three previous home games, Milwaukee has an ATS mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-2 while averaging 108 points per game.
- Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Milwaukee has an ATS mark of 4-6 while going 9-1 straight up.
- In their last five games, the Bucks have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.
The Lean
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +11.5, the Wizards is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 224.5 and given that our model is projecting 249 points between the teams, we like the over.
Bucks Aim to Rebound Against Wizards After Blowout Loss
The Milwaukee Bucks will seek to regain their rhythm when they host the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, just one day removed from a tough 124-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Bucks Struggle Without Lillard
Milwaukee (17-8) struggled offensively in Cleveland, playing without star guard Damian Lillard, who is sidelined with a right calf strain. Giannis Antetokounmpo did his part, delivering 33 points and 14 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a sluggish team performance. The Bucks trailed by 18 at halftime and couldn’t mount a comeback.
“We were flat, tired,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “We’ve got to move the ball more. We’ve got to get more organized.”
Rivers also voiced concerns about the tight scheduling after Milwaukee’s NBA Cup championship win on Tuesday, calling for the league to address the quick turnaround in future seasons.
Lillard, who averages 25.7 points and 7.5 assists per game, is expected to miss Saturday’s game as the Bucks exercise caution.
Wizards Riding Rare Momentum
The Washington Wizards (4-18) are coming off a 123-114 home win over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, marking just their second victory in their last 21 games. Jordan Poole led the way with 27 points, while Malcolm Brogdon added 25 in his return from injury.
Head coach Brian Keefe praised the contributions of Brogdon and Corey Kispert, who both returned to action and provided much-needed balance to the team.
“They kept the scoreboard moving. Nice to have those guys back to balance out the team and have a more even 48 minutes offensively,” Keefe said.
Despite their struggles, the Wizards have shown flashes of promise. Poole leads the team in scoring (20.6 points per game) and assists (5.1), while Jonas Valanciunas is averaging a team-high 7.6 rebounds.
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Washington remains near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories, including a league-worst -14.8 point differential. They tied their franchise-worst 16-game losing streak earlier this season but snapped it with an upset win over the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 7.
Injury Updates
Washington could again be without Kyle Kuzma, who missed Thursday’s game due to a rib injury. His status for Saturday is unclear.
For Milwaukee, Lillard is expected to remain out, while Rivers has expressed optimism that his absence won’t extend much longer.
Key Matchup: Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Jordan Poole
Antetokounmpo continues to dominate, leading the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game. He delivered a triple-double (42 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) in Milwaukee’s previous meeting with Washington on Nov. 30, a 124-114 win for the Bucks.
Poole will need to replicate his strong performance from that game, where he scored 31 points and dished seven assists, to give the Wizards a chance.
Outlook
The Bucks are looking to rebound quickly and maintain their position near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Wizards aim to build on their rare win and find some consistency in a challenging season. With Milwaukee still adjusting to life without Lillard and Washington showing signs of life, the matchup could be closer than anticipated.
