OKLAHOMA CITY @ MILWAUKEE (OKC -3.5, 231.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
THUNDER @ BUCKS 3/16/25
The NBA is set to heat up Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee today as the Oklahoma City Thunder clash with the Milwaukee Bucks for a riveting cross-conference showdown. This one should prove to be the game of the day with tip-off scheduled for 9:00 PM ET.
In their previous encounter, the Thunder stunned the Bucks with an emphatic 125-96 victory, taking full advantage of Milwaukee's depleted roster, which was missing key players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. However, this time around, both teams are hungry for redemption and, hopefully, at full strength, with the Bucks determined to even the score on their home turf.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are riding a wave of momentum following their recent triumphs. After suffering a setback against the Denver Nuggets, they have bounced back with impressive victories over the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, showcasing their exceptional defense. Key players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren are leading the charge, with Holmgren's return to the lineup further bolstering the Thunder's formidable defense.
On the other side of the court, the Milwaukee Bucks are regrouping after a brief losing streak. Their recent victory over the Los Angeles Lakers has rekindled hope, as the Bucks aim for consistency and a climb up the Eastern Conference standings. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard listed as probable participants, the Bucks are counting on their explosive inside game and impressive three-point shooting to tip the scales in their favor.
The matchup promises to be a strategic battle of strengths. The Thunder will rely on their league-leading defensive rating and skill at forcing turnovers to counteract Milwaukee's potent offense. In contrast, the Bucks will look to exploit their shooting acumen from beyond the arc while harnessing Giannis' inside power to unlock the Thunder’s defense.
As both teams hit the court for the second night of a back-to-back, Oklahoma City's depth might just give them the edge in this high-stakes game. That depth has helped the Thunder go 9-1 SU in their last 10 games. OKC has covered 5 of the last 6, but hasn’t had all that much success against the Bucks. Milwaukee has won 7 of the last 9 meetings, including the first one this season. The Bucks are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 against OKC.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER OVER 2.5 THREE-POINTERS
SGA is the NBA’s leading scorer averaging 33 points per game. He shoots 37.6 percent from three-point for the season, but lately he has been killing it from deep. In the month of March, SGA is hitting 44 percent of his triples and making an average of 3.1 per game. He has hit at least three in 7 of his last 10 games and he’s gone Over this number in 4 of his last 5 games on the road. He only hit 2 in each of the two previous games against the Bucks this season, but tonight he goes Over.