NBA Odds: Lakers (even)
The Milwaukee Bucks will travel to the Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Lakers. The game gets underway at 10:30 pm ET on Friday, Feb. 27 and will air on FSN-WI and TWC SN.
The Lakers won a close one over the Jazz 100-97 on Wednesday. Jordan Clarkson was the game’s high scorer with 22 points on 10-for-16 shooting. The Bucks, meanwhile, are coming off a 104-88 win over the 76ers on Wednesday. John Henson led the game in scoring with 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting.
Based on each team’s statistical profile, ball protection could play an integral role in this matchup. The Lakers commit the fourth-fewest miscues in the NBA (turnover percentage of 12.7%), while the ball-hawking defense of Los Angeles forces the most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 16.9%). Furthermore, the defense of the Bucks should have an advantage in terms of effective field goal percentage. They’re fifth in the league in forcing misses (opponents’ effective field goal percentage of 47.9%), while the offense of the Lakers ranks 26th in effective field goal percentage (47.2%).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Bucks won the first game 113-105. Khris Middleton was a top performer in the victory with 21 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and one three-pointer.
The odds are even for this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. The Lakers enter the game with records of 15-41 Straight Up (SU) and 25-29-2 Against The Spread (ATS). They have gone 8-12 SU and 10-10 ATS against teams from the Eastern Conference. Expect Los Angeles to have lots of opportunities at the line against the Bucks, who are one of the worst fouling teams in the league with an average of 22.2 fouls per game.
Across the court, the Bucks head into the game with records of 35-22 ATS and 32-25 SU. Milwaukee managed to go 7-3 SU over the last 10 games, while only going 3-7 ATS during the same amount of time. Milwaukee is one of the top shooting teams in the league, converting .464 of their shots from the floor. Milwaukee’s defense as a whole has been firing on all cylinders so far, ranking second in the NBA with only 96.5 points allowed per game. Teams seem to consistently miss shots against the Bucks, who are the third-best team in the league in terms of opponent field goal percentage allowed at .431. Milwaukee makes opponents pay for turning the ball over, ranking second in points off turnovers with an average of 19.2 per game.
Following the Bucks’ latest win over Los Angeles, their SU record rises to 6-4 over the Lakers in the last 10 games. Additionally, the Bucks lead the matchup ATS with a record of 5-4-1. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Milwaukee held the edge in all three of these categories twice in the last 10 meetings. Los Angeles did so once.
Predictions: SU Winner – MIL, ATS Winner – MIL
Notes
On average, Milwaukee puts up 98.4 points per game (ranked 20th). Los Angeles ranks 30th in points allowed per game with 106.2.
Milwaukee scores an average of 98.5 points per away game (ranked 15th). Los Angeles ranks 30th in points allowed per home game with 105.3.
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Bucks are 24-8 on the season. When the Lakers score fewer than 100, they are an underachieving 3-24.
At 8-17, the Milwaukee Bucks have a poor record when their opponents score 100 points or more. The Los Angeles Lakers are 12-17 when they hit the century mark.
The Lakers have a defensive rating of 107.9 (ranked 30th), while the Bucks rank 22nd for their offensive rating of 101.0.
Milwaukee has an average field goal percentage of 46.4% (ranked fifth). Los Angeles is a subpar 4-27 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Los Angeles Lakers average 19.2 three point attempts per game and have a losing 3-7 record when attempting at least 25 in a game. The Milwaukee Bucks average 18.7 attempts and have a winning 4-1 record when attempting 25 or more.
The Los Angeles Lakers, with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.64, rank 14th in the NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks have a lower A/TO (1.49), ranking 21st.
Milwaukee ranks 26th in rebounds per game with 41.3, while Los Angeles ranks 14th with 43.7.
The Milwaukee Bucks rank 24th in offensive rebounding, while the Los Angeles Lakers rank 20th in defensive rebounding.
Milwaukee is one of the top teams in forced turnovers, with opponents averaging a TOV% of 16.9% (ranked first). Los Angeles has a losing record of 1-4 SU this season when its TOV% reaches 16.9% or greater.
