Milwaukee Bucks at Denver Nuggets odds, picks and predictions

Kevin Erickson | Staff Writer

The Milwaukee Bucks (32-14) open a 5-game road trip against the Denver Nuggets (32-15) Monday at Ball Arena as Doc Rivers will make his Bucks coaching debut. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Bucks vs. Nuggets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

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

The Bucks have picked up 4 wins in the past 5 games, including a 141-117 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday as 3.5-point favorites. Milwaukee is 2-1 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in 3 games since coach Adrian Griffin was fired. Assistant Joe Prunty served as interim coach in the 3 contests.

The Nuggets posted a 111-105 home win against the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday but came up short as 8.5-point favorites. It was a nice bounce-back victory after getting blown out 122-84 in New York as 2.5-point favorites Thursday. Denver is just 0-3-1 ATS in the past 4 games, while going 3-8-1 ATS in the past 12 outings.

Bucks at Nuggets odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:29 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Bucks +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Nuggets -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
Against the spread: Bucks +4.5 (-115) | Nuggets -4.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 239.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Bucks at Nuggets key injuries

Bucks

F Giannis Antetokounmpo (illness) probable

Nuggets

G Julian Strawther (knee) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Bucks at Nuggets picks and predictions

Prediction

Nuggets 121, Bucks 115

Moneyline

The Nuggets (-175) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and that's just a little bit past my personal limit for a standalone moneyline wager.

The Bucks (+145) have won just once in the past 4 games on the road against a winning team, and they'll have their hands full trying to solve Denver in the Mile High City.

PASS.

Against the spread

The NUGGETS -4.5 (-105) are worth a look on their home floor. Denver has covered 4 of 7 games at home against Eastern Conference teams, but there is some risk here since it is just 1-5-1 ATS in the past 7 games.

The Bucks have failed to cover 6 in a row on the road, while going just 3-11 ATS in the past 14 outings. Milwaukee is 0-3 ATS in the past 3 meetings, while cashing just twice in the previous 8 in the series.

Over/Under

The UNDER 239.5 (-110) is the lean in this battle in the Mile High City.

Denver's defense is solid, ranking 6th in the NBA allowing 111.0 points per game (PPG), while it is so-so offensively at 115.1 PPG to check in 17th. This is a bad free-throw shooting team, too, hitting just 74.9% to rank 28th.

While Milwaukee has struggled defensively, and it was a major reason Griffin was let go, the Bucks have been solid against the 3-pointer, allowing just 34.8% to rank 5th in the NBA.

The Over and Under has alternated in each of the past 7 Milwaukee games, while cashing the Over (243) last time against New Orleans. The Under has connected in 5 straight games for the Nuggets, while going 7-2 across the past 9 outings.

The Under also cashed in both head-to-head meetings last season.

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

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