by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 10, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Where to watch: BSSE-CHA, BSWI
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Bucks -1.5
BetMGM: Bucks -2.5
Caesars: Bucks -2.5
Season record
Bucks: 26-16 (4th place, Eastern Conference)
Hornets: 21-19 (8th place, Eastern Conference)
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Bucks - Hornets preview and analysis
Recent form
Bucks: won three of four; lost 114-106 at Hornets on Friday
Hornets: won three of five
The Milwaukee Bucks will try to avenge Saturday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets when the teams meet again at Spectrum Center on Monday.
The Hornets won 114-106 against the defending champions for their third win in five games, three days after putting up 140 points against the Detroit Pistons. Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 28 points, and Miles Bridges had 21 points and eight rebounds to pace Charlotte’s offense.
LaMelo Ball did what he does as well, going for 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
“That is a big win right there for us,” said Hornets coach James Borrego.
And it’s another win in the long line of them that have put the Hornets into sneak contention in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is two games above .500 and is in the thick of things when it comes to the top six seeds. Hornets fans have longed for some consistency when it comes to playoff success, but this is surely a time to think that a new era is on the horizon.
But if they get to the playoffs, they know that the road normally goes through Milwaukee, but it had to be a confidence booster for the Hornets to get by the champs the way they did the other night. Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo putting up 43 points and 12 rebounds, the Hornets’ depth proved to be the difference beyond Milwaukee’s top two.
Khris Middleton also had a double-double of 27 points and 10 rebounds.
"They play hard and they are scrappy," Antetokounmpo said. "They defend man-to-man and then they'll go zone. ... We have to trust one another and just focus on ourselves."
The Bucks have lost three of four with losses to the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons included in that ledger. Right now, that win at the Brooklyn Nets on Friday seems to be offset.
But we need to give the Bucks the benefit of the doubt. The loss to Charlotte was the second game of a back-to-back off travel from Brooklyn. To only lose by eight points is actually pretty remarkable. Give them a day off to prepare for a rematch, expect a better effort this time around.
Prediction
The Bucks are dealing with some COVID absences in the backcourt, primarily to Jrue Holiday and George Hill. Holiday tested out of protocol before Saturday’s matchup, but is also dealing with left ankle soreness. Milwaukee needs their shutdown star to slow down Ball. His absence would make that a problem, but I still like the Bucks to rebound with a little bit more commitment to defense. Bucks by 3
Betting trends
The Bucks are 8-15 ATS this season off an under.
The Bucks are 49-53 ATS over the past three seasons on the road.
The Hornets are 13-3 ATS at home this season and 8-2 as a home dog.
Projected starting lineup
Bucks:
PG: Donte DiVincenzo
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Bobby Portis
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Bobby Portis
Hornets:
PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Terry Rozier
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Mason Plumlee
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Mason Plumlee
Key injuries
Bucks: Jrue Holiday (ankle, out), George Hill (COVID, out), Pat Connaughton (COVID, questionable)
Hornets: None
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
