Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in a rematch of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals on MLK Day. The Hawks are on a five-game losing streak, disappointing to the tune of a 17-25 record this season. The Bucks are 27-18 overall as they attempt to defend the 2021 NBA title. Jrue Holiday (ankle) and Brook Lopez (back) are out for the Bucks. Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) and Clint Capela (ankle) are out for the Hawks.
Tipoff is at 6 p.m. ET on Monday in Atlanta. Caesars Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as the 5.5-point road favorite, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 230 in the latest Bucks vs. Hawks odds. Before making any Hawks vs. Bucks picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model entered Week 13 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 52-28 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Hawks, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Hawks vs. Bucks:
- Bucks vs. Hawks spread: Bucks -5.5
- Bucks vs. Hawks over-under: 230 points
- Bucks vs. Hawks money line: Bucks -230, Hawks +190
- MIL: The Bucks are 12-11 against the spread in road games
- ATL: The Hawks are 7-12 against the spread in home games
Featured Game | Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee’s offense is potent, scoring more than 1.1 points per possession and ranking in the top eight of the NBA in 3-point accuracy (36.1 percent) and 3-pointers per game (14.3). Beyond that, Atlanta’s defense ranks in the bottom five in several categories, making the matchup easier for the Bucks, but Milwaukee’s defense remains its strength. The Bucks are holding opponents to 107.4 points per 100 possessions, ranking in the top eight of the NBA, and Milwaukee is in the top five in field-goal percentage allowed (43.8 percent) and 3-point percentage allowed (33.7 percent).
The Bucks keep opponents off the free-throw line, allowing only 19.4 attempts per game, and Milwaukee is good on the defensive glass. The Bucks secure more than 73 percent of available defensive rebounds, and Milwaukee is averaging 7.8 steals per game while giving up only 11.8 fast break points per game.
Why the Hawks can cover
The Hawks are tremendous on the offensive end of the floor. Atlanta is No. 2 in the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring 112.5 points per 100 possessions this season. The Hawks lead the league in ball security, committing a turnover on only 12.5 percent of offensive possessions, and Atlanta is making 46.0 percent of field-goal attempts. The Hawks are in the top five in 3-point shooting, making 37.2 percent of long-range offerings, and Atlanta is above-average in free-throw attempts (21.4 per game) and free-throw accuracy (80.0 percent).
Though the Hawks struggle on defense overall, Atlanta is No. 3 in the NBA in the free-throw attempts allowed, giving up only 18.8 per game, and the Hawks are also very good on defensive glass. Atlanta secures 74.2 percent of available rebounds after forcing a missed shot, and opponents are averaging only 11.9 second-chance points per game.
How to make Hawks vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting 224 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Bucks vs. Hawks? And which side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
