Houston Rockets at Milwaukee Bucks odds, picks and predictions

Ryan Dodson | Staff Writer

The Houston Rockets (13-9) take on the Milwaukee Bucks (18-7) Sunday with tip-off from Fiserv Forum set for 7 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Rockets vs. Bucks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: First meeting; tied 1-1 last season

The Rockets have won 5 in a row after taking a home-and-home from the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday and Friday. They took the Friday tilt 103-96 on the road as 2.5-point favorites as the Under 213 cashed. This streak includes their only 2 wins on the road this year after losing their 1st 8.

The Bucks have won 3 in a row, scoring at least 133 points in each, with the most recent being a 146-114 beatdown of the Detroit Pistons Saturday. So while they are on a back-to-back, F Giannis Antetokounmpo only played 25 minutes and had 22 points, 8 boards and 6 assists. G Damian Lillard had 33 points in 29 minutes, and F/C Bobby Portis Jr. had a season-high 31 in 26 minutes off the bench.

Rockets at Bucks odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:33 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Rockets +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Bucks -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +6.5 (-105) | Bucks -6.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 229.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Rockets at Bucks key injuries

Rockets

G Victor Oladipo (knee) out
F Jae'Sean Tate (illness) questionable
F Amen Thompson (illness) questionable

Bucks

G Malik Beasley (illness) questionable
F Khris Middleton (knee) probable

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Rockets at Bucks picks and predictions

Prediction

Bucks 120, Rockets 110

Moneyline

This might not be well known, but the Rockets have a great defense. They're 2nd in FG% allowed, 1st in FG made, 1st in 3-point percentage allowed and 1st with 105.1 PPG allowed. That's nearly 10 points lower than the league average. They have just the 27th-ranked offense at 109.5 points per game, and I don't see enough weapons to take down Giannis and Co., on the road.

PASS.

I do think fading Giannis a bit is in order, though. The Rockets rebound well and have length to keep him under 30. Take GIANNIS ANTETOKOUMPO UNDER 32.5 POINTS (-125).

Against the spread

The spread is working in our favor as it dropped from -7.5 earlier Sunday. The Bucks are 13-2 at home overall but just 6-7-1 ATS at home. That doesn't scare me at this number. Middleton sat Saturday and should be good to go here, and the Bucks stars didn't play a slew of minutes in Saturday's blowout.

Take the BUCKS -6.5 (-115).

Over/Under

The Bucks are 8-2 O/U over the last 10, while Houston is just 3-7. This one is tricky because Houston's spread reduced, but the total did not move in the process. I think it sneaks Over, but go easy here.

LEAN OVER 229.5 (-115).

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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