New Orleans Pelicans vs. Milwaukee Bucks - 12/11/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Location: Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Milwaukee -13.5

Total/Over-Under: 235.5

Fiserv Forum is the venue where Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks (21-3, 1st in the Central Division) will play the New Orleans Pelicans (6-18, 5th in the Southwest Division) on Wednesday. Milwaukee opens this game as 13.5 point favorites. The total opens at 235.5.

The Pelicans are covering the spread 37.5% of the time, having gone 9-15-0 ATS. Milwaukee is covering 50.0% of the time, going 12-12-0 against the spread.

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/9/2019 Zylan Cheatham SF Undisclosed Expected to be out until at least Dec 13
12/9/2019 Derrick Favors PF Personal Expected to be out until at least Dec 11
12/6/2019 Zion Williamson SF Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 3
8/29/2019 Darius Miller SF Achilles Expected to be out until at least Apr 1

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

12/8/2019 Dragan Bender SF Ankle Expected to be out until at least Dec 11

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday comes into this game averaging 19.3 points per contest while playing 35.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 67%. Brandon Ingram averages 24.9 points per contest in 33.7 minutes per game. He averages 4.0 assists per game and 7.0 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 30.9 points per contest while playing 31.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 13.2 rebounds per contest and has 5.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is at 59%. Eric Bledsoe averages 14.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 27.1 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.0 rebounds per game and has 5.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 112.8 points per contest, which is 9th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -6.8 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 20th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 11th in the NBA. They average 44.3 boards per contest and 24.5 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 12th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 7th with 16.1 per game. The Pelicans allow 119.5 points per contest, which is 29th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 25th and 23rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.8 rebounds a game which ranks 26th, and they allow 25.0 assists per game which puts them in 22nd place in the league. They force 15.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Milwaukee is 1st in the NBA with 120.5 points per contest this season. They are 2nd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 13.38. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 16th in the league. They are 1st in the NBA in rebounding with 51.9 boards per contest and 7th in assists per game with 25.9. The Bucks are 20th in turnovers per contest with 14.9. The Bucks give up 107.2 points per game, which ranks them 10th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 1st and 20th in those defensive statistics. They rank 14th with 23.7 dimes allowed per game and 22nd with 46.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Bucks are 14th in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 114.1, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 27th. They are 4th in the NBA in pace with 103.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 11th. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. New Orleans is 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 6th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Milwaukee is 21st in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 30th in the NBA. The Bucks are 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 101.5, and their offensive rating of 114.2 is ranked 1st. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 105.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 1st. As a unit they are 1st in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New Orleans -13.5

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