Washington-wizards vs Milwaukee Bucks Picks and Predictions February 21st 2025

Washington-Wizards vs Milwaukee Bucks February 21st 2025

At 7:00 ET, the Milwaukee Bucks (-272) will travel to the Capital One Arena to take on the Washington Wizards (+223). The Bucks are currently favored by 7 points and have won two straight games. Meanwhile, the Wizards have lost four straight and are 15th in the Eastern Conference.

This Eastern Conference matchup will be televised on MNMT and the over/under line is currently set at 229.5 points.

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Bucks vs. Wizards Key Information

The Bucks improved to 30-24 on the season with a 116-110 win over the Clippers on Thursday. Milwaukee, who were +1.5 point underdogs, covered the spread with the win. The game’s total points of 226 fell just short of the 227-point O/U line.

Milwaukee’s defense shined in the 2nd quarter, holding the Clippers to 21 points. However, a 10-0 run by the Clippers put the Bucks in a tough spot, trailing 89-80 going into the 4th. The Bucks responded by outscoring the Clippers 36-21 in the final quarter to complete the comeback.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 23 points, shooting 71.4% from the field in their win over the Clippers. Brook Lopez added 22 points, hitting 4 threes at 57.1% efficiency, while Damian Lillard struggled, shooting just 16.7% from the field, though he contributed 15 points and 7 assists.

The Bucks connected on 17 threes at a 39.5% rate, finishing with a 47.5% overall shooting percentage. Giannis scored 10 points in the 4th quarter, while Lillard added 12 in the final period.

Defensively, the Bucks were strong in the 2nd and 4th quarters, allowing just 21 points in each, which helped them secure a 116-110 win over the Clippers. Despite a tough 3rd quarter where they gave up 39 points, Milwaukee held Los Angeles to 110 points overall.

The Clippers shot 46% from the field and hit 40% of their threes, with 12 made from deep. Milwaukee sent them to the line 19 times, where they made 16 free throws. The Bucks grabbed 33 defensive rebounds, gave up 11 offensive boards, and added 5 steals and 5 blocks.

Washington fell to 9-45 on the season after a 134-130 loss to the Pacers on Wednesday. Despite being +10 point underdogs, the Wizards kept things close at home. The game’s total of 264 points went well over the pre-game line of 242.5.

After a 12-0 run, the Wizards extended their lead from 51-44 to 63-44. They led 97-84 going into the 4th quarter, but the Pacers stormed back, outscoring Washington 36-23 in the final period to complete the comeback.

In their 134-130 loss to the Pacers, the Wizards connected on 23 threes, shooting 51.1% from deep and 48.5% overall. Jordan Poole led the way with 42 points, including 13 in the 3rd quarter and 7 in overtime, hitting 6 threes at a 40% clip.

Corey Kispert added 21 points, knocking down 5 threes at an 83.3% rate, with 8 points in the 1st quarter. Bub Carrington contributed 18 points, hitting 4 threes at 66.7%, and added 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Wizards put together a strong defensive effort in the 1st and 2nd quarters, allowing just 25 and 22 points, respectively. However, they struggled in the 2nd half, giving up 37 points in the 3rd quarter and 36 in the 4th, leading to a 134-130 loss to the Pacers.

Washington allowed Indiana to shoot 46% from the field, including 45% from beyond the arc, where the Pacers hit 16 threes. The Wizards sent Indiana to the line 20 times, where they made 18 free throws. Defensively, Washington recorded 5 steals and 7 blocks.

Coming in as the underdogs at +7, we have the Wizards as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 229.5, and our model projects the Bucks and Wizards to reach a combined total of 221 points. Our bet is on taking the under.

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Khris Middleton Likely to Make Wizards’ Debut vs. Bucks

Two teams that swapped key starters two weeks ago will return to the court on Friday night when the Washington Wizards host the Milwaukee Bucks.

Middleton Set for Washington Debut

The Bucks sent veteran forward Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma in a four-team deal on Feb. 6. Middleton is expected to make his Wizards debut Friday against his old squad.

“I’m here to be a basketball player. I’m here to win games, here to help win games however I can,” Middleton said. “I am going to be here as a mentor and whatnot, but I want Wizards fans to know that I’m not here just to be a mentor. I’m here to be a basketball player and compete out there and help win games.”

Washington has struggled mightily this season. At 9-45, the Wizards have the worst record in the NBA and had lost four in a row before the All-Star break, dropping 20 of their last 23 games overall.

Bucks Finding Stability

The Milwaukee Bucks have stabilized after a rough start and currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Friday will mark the second game of a back-to-back set for the Bucks, who rallied to beat the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 116-110 on Thursday.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 23 points in 23 minutes in his return from a calf injury after missing the previous eight games.

“I will let you all figure out his minutes restriction without asking,” coach Doc Rivers said, smiling. “We were going to take him out at the four (-minute mark of the fourth quarter) and save him for the final two. Giannis wanted to keep going because he felt he was warm. It worked tonight. I didn’t love it.”

Kuzma’s Impact on Milwaukee

In five games with the Bucks, Kuzma has averaged 15.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, adding a new weapon to the team’s offense. Rivers singled him out for turning the tide in the win Thursday.

“In the first three quarters, we were trying to fight switches and go iso ball, and the ball wasn’t moving,” Rivers said. “I thought our biggest adjustment was we got the ball in Kyle’s hands and took our guards off the ball so they could come up and get the ball.”

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Kuzma is sure to get a warm reception from the Washington crowd.

“We want to thank Kyle for his contributions during his time with our team,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said. “His impact on and off the court was felt by teammates, coaches and fans alike. His dedication … will leave a lasting impact.”

Head-to-Head Matchup

Middleton, 33, was a key piece in the Bucks’ NBA championship run in 2021 but has been nagged by injuries in recent seasons. He is averaging his lowest point total (12.6) since the 2013-14 season.

The Bucks have won both of their home games against the Wizards this season, posting a 124-114 victory on Nov. 30 and a 112-101 triumph on Dec. 21.