Milwaukee Bucks at Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Picks & Predictions 12/29/2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Milwaukee Bucks head to Chesapeake Energy Arena to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, December 29, 2017. The opening line for this game has Oklahoma City as 7 point favorites.

The Bucks head into this matchup with a mark of 17-15. They are 4th in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.6 as they are averaging 105.2 points per contest while giving up 105.8 per game. The Thunder have an overall record of 20-15. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 103.5 points per game and surrendering 100.2, good for a point differential of 3.3.

Valuable Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Bucks are 12-15-5 against the spread

The Milwaukee Bucks are 21-11-0 against the over/under

Important Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 13-21-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 14-21-0 against the over/under

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

11/21/17 F Mirza Teletovic Lung is out indefinitely
10/16/17 F Jabari Parker Knee is out indefinitely

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Khris Middleton comes into this game averaging 20.7 points per contest while playing 37.3 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 89%. Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 29.5 points per contest in 37.9 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.6 assists per game and 10.4 rebounds per contest for Milwaukee. His field goal percentage is 55% for the season while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Paul George has scored 20.5 points per contest while playing 37.2 minutes per game this season for the Thunder. He hauls in 5.7 rebounds per contest and has 3.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Russell Westbrook averages 24 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 36.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.3 rebounds per game and 10 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Milwaukee averages 105.2 points per contest this year, which is 14th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.66 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 3rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 23rd in the NBA. They average 38.6 boards per contest and 22.5 assists per game, which ranks them 30th and 15th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 28th with 13.3 per game. The Bucks allow 105.8 points per contest which is 18th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 40% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 30th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.5 rebounds a game which ranks 13th, and they allow 22 assists per game which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City is 20th in the NBA with 103.5 points per contest this season. They are 23rd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.34. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 21st in the league. They are 13th in the NBA in rebounding with 44 boards per contest and 24th in assists per game with 20.9. The Thunder are 13th in turnovers per contest with 14.7. The Thunder give up 100.2 points per game, which ranks them 3rd in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 7th and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 7th with 21.5 dimes allowed per game and 4th with 41.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Thunder are 30th in the league in forcing turnovers with 17.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bucks are 9th in the league in defensive rating with 110.1, and their offensive rating of 109.4 is ranked 8th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 95.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 7th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 20th in the NBA. Milwaukee is 26th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 7th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 18th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 18th in the NBA. The Thunder are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 104.2, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 26th. They are 25th in the NBA in pace with 95 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 23rd. As a unit they are 24th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 19th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Bucks/Thunder NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Milwaukee +7

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