Charlotte Hornets (3-7) vs Milwaukee Bucks (7-4)
Game Info: Friday, November 17, 2023 at 7:00 pm (Spectrum Center)
Betting Odds: Charlotte Hornets +7.5 -- Over/Under: 234 Click Here for the Latest Odds
The Milwaukee Bucks pay a visit to the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center on Friday night.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have been in great form with five wins in their past seven games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight victory after routing the Raptors in a 128-112 road win on Wednesday. Damian Lillard led the team with 37 points and 13 assists on nine of 18 shooting, Malik Beasley drained eight 3-pointers to finish with 30 points on 11 of 14 shooting while Cameron Payne chipped in with 13 points off the bench. As a team, the Bucks shot 51 percent from the field and a sizzling 20 of 39 from the 3-point line as they jumped all over the Raptors from the start, exploding for 70 points in the first half to open up a 33-point lead which allowed them to cruise in the second half.
Charlotte Hornets
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets have struggled to get going this season with just three wins in their first 10 games and they will be hoping to snap a two-game skid after coming up short against the Heat in a 111-105 loss on Tuesday. PJ Washington led the team with 32 points on 12 of 23 shooting, LaMelo Ball tallied 28 points with 11 assists, while Mark Williams chipped in with 11 points on five of five shooting. As a team, the Hornets shot 44 percent from the field and 15 of 32 from the 3-point line as they scored just 16 points in the second quarter to waste an early 11-point lead, before they made a late run in the fourth quarter that was too little, too late. LaMelo Ball shot just nine of 26 from the field with eight turnovers, while Theo Maledon scored just two points on zero of five shooting.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Hornets rank 30th in the league for three-point field goals made per game this season (9.4).
- The Hornets rank 30th in the league for three-point field goal attempts per game this season (29.3).
- The Bucks rank 1st in the league for free throw attempts per game this season (27.9).
- The Bucks rank 30th in the league for field goal attempts per game this season (85.1).
Peter's Pick
The Bucks could be shorthanded once again as Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently listed as questionable, while the Hornets don't have a single player listed on the injury report. The Bucks come in as the obvious favorite despite the possible absence of Antetokounmpo as they still have more than enough firepower with Lillard pouring in 37 points in his last game. The Hornets showed plenty of fight to hang with the Heat on Tuesday, but we're just not getting enough help from the bookies at this line. The Bucks may not be at full strength for this one, but I'm still backing them to get the win and cover on the road against this struggling Hornets team.