Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/17/2021

Time: 8 p.m. ET 

Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA

Where to watch: Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally South Wisconsin

DraftKings: Bucks -3

BetMGM: Bucks -3.5

Caesars: NL

Bucks: 19-11 (2nd place, Eastern Conference)

Pelicans: 9-21 (14th place, Western Conference)

Bucks: won three of four; won 114-99 vs. Pacers on Wednesday

Pelicans: won two of three; won 113-110 at Thunder on Wednesday

It’s a trying time for the Milwaukee Bucks right now, but at least the defending champs found a way to win a tough game on Wednesday.

The run without Giannis Antetokounmpo will continue on Friday when the Bucks visit the New Orleans Pelicans, as Milwaukee goes for its fourth win in five games.

Milwaukee has to navigate through the waters without their two-time MVP and reigning Finals MVP for at least the next 10 days due to health and safety protocols, but the Bucks got off to a strong start by winning by 15 over the Indiana Pacers at home.

And the reason why the Bucks were able to win is how they’ve won in the past: Defense. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 27-12 in the fourth quarter to pull away and get that much-deserved victory. Milwaukee went on a 21-0 run in the fourth to put the game on ice.

Jrue Holiday turned back the clock with 26 points and 14 assists, reverting back to elite Holiday form for one night. Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis had 20 points each, and Portis also chipped in with nine rebounds in the victory.

"He just takes what the game gives him," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of his point guard. "He's got incredible poise and calm and confidence. He's going to make the right read and the right play very, very often. I think his leadership, regardless of who's here, is pretty significant, but I think it goes to another level on a night like tonight."

Don’t be mistaken: Until Antetokounmpo returns to the lineup, any Bucks games need to be taken with a grain of salt. For as awesome as it would be for the Bucks to be willed to victory by the epicness of Holiday, but who knows? Khris Middleton’s return to the lineup will be an added bonus to the scoring and perimeter defense, and that will help greatly in this matchup against the Pelicans.

By the way, how many times have you watched Devonte’ Graham’s 61-foot heave that defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder? About 30 times for me, that’s for sure.

The Pelicans have needed some sort of positivity nowadays, and Graham’s heave to win on Wednesday is the highlight they can hang their collective hat on. Yes, it’s the Thunder, but with the news that Zion Williamson will be re-evaluated again in 4-6 weeks because of an injection in his foot.

Brandon Ingram had a game-high 34 points on 11 made field goals, and Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points to go with 16 rebounds. Graham had 15 points, all on five 3-pointers.

"I just wanted to get one up, honestly," Graham said. "I didn't want to take the ball out. I waited. Then J-Hart (Josh Hart) passed it to me and I just let it fly."

The Pelicans have not covered in four of their last five, even as favorites over two of the past three; they were 4.5-point favorites against Oklahoma City, and put down 6.5 points in a 16-point home victory against the Detroit Pistons last Friday.

The books open for such a small spread in favor of the Bucks that it seems too good to pass up. Milwaukee’s defense put the clamps on All-Star players in Indiana, that if it comes down to Ingram or Middleton, I’m taking the latter. Jonas Valanciunas needs to have a big game against DeMarcus Cousins in order to keep the Pelicans in it. Bucks by 8

The Bucks are 5-17 ATS in their last 22 against Southwest Division opponents.

The Bucks are 5-10 ATS in their last 15 off a home win against a division opponent.

The Pelicans are 16-16 ATS in their last 32 off a road win.

PG: Jrue Holiday

SG: Grayson Allen
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Jordan Nwora
C: DeMarcus Cousins

PG: Devonte’ Graham

SG: Brandon Ingram
SF: Josh Hart
PF: Herbert Jones
C: Jonas Valanciunas

Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo (COVID, out), Donte DiVincenzo (COVID, out), Wesley Matthews (COVID, out), Bobby Portis (out)

Pelicans: Zion Williamson (foot, out), Kira Lewis (ACL, out)