The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Time Warner Cable Arena to take on the Charlotte Hornets. The game starts at 2:00 pm ET on Sunday, Nov. 29 and will air on FWi and FxS.
The Hornets were beaten by the Cavaliers 95-90 on Friday. Kemba Walker finished with 18 points to lead the team. The Bucks, meanwhile, are coming off an ugly 114-90 loss to the Magic on Friday. Khris Middleton recorded 15 points, four assists, and three steals.
Walker has been playing at a high level as of late for the Hornets, averaging 22.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.4 blocks, and 2.0 three-pointers over the last five games. Giannis Antetokounmpo has also been on a tear in the same span, averaging 19.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.0 block, and 0.6 three-pointers while leading the Bucks.
The high-powered Hornets offense (fourth in the NBA with an offensive efficiency of 105.1) will square off against the poor Bucks defense (30th in the league with a defensive efficiency of 110.2), a matchup that should favor the Hornets.
The Hornets, a five-point favorite, will look to capitalize at home against Milwaukee. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is set at 202 points. The Hornets are attempting to build on their records of 9-7 Straight Up (SU) and 9-6-1 Against The Spread (ATS). They have gone 5-6 SU and 5-5-1 ATS against teams from the Eastern Conference. The Hornets come into the game with the fifth-ranked scoring offense in the league, averaging 103.4 points per game. The Hornets, sporting the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the NBA (1.80), have proven themselves to be an extremely efficient offensive team. Milwaukee has a habit of getting in foul trouble (24.1 fouls per game), so expect the Hornets to get a number of opportunities from the free throw line.
On the other side, Milwaukee has identical records of 6-10 SU and ATS so far. Milwaukee has records of 6-8 SU and 5-9 ATS against the East. Milwaukee is one of the top foul-shooting teams in the league, hitting .797 of their shots from the line. A large part of Milwaukee’s game is creating turnovers and turning them into points. They are scoring 20.0 points per game off turnovers, which ranks fifth in the league.
This is the first meeting of the season for the conference rivals. The last time they played Milwaukee came out on top, but the Hornets still lead the head-to-head record, 7-3 SU, over the last 10 matchups. The teams have an even record ATS, 5-5.
Predictions: SU Winner – Cha, ATS Winner – Mil, O/U – Under
Notes
Charlotte is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Charlotte’s last 13 games at home.
Charlotte is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home.
Charlotte is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Milwaukee.
Charlotte is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Charlotte.
Charlotte is one of the top scoring teams, averaging 103.4 points per game (ranked fifth). Milwaukee, on the other hand, gives up 106.1 points per game (ranked 27th).
Charlotte averages 107.8 points per home game, placing the team fourth-best in the NBA. Milwaukee, on the other hand, allows 108.0 points per away game (ranked 27th).
In its last game, Milwaukee lost by a 24-point margin. Charlotte is 2-1 in games decided by a margin of 18 points or more. Milwaukee has a 1-5 record in blowouts.
In games where they allow fewer than 100 points, the Milwaukee Bucks are an outstanding 5-1. In games where they score fewer than 100 points, the Charlotte Hornets have an abysmal record of 1-7.
When Milwaukee allows 100 or more points, the team is a subpar 1-9. In games where it hits triple digits, Charlotte is undefeated with an 8-0 record.
Milwaukee’s offense and Charlotte’s defense both rank 13th this season. Milwaukee has an offensive rating of 102.3 and Charlotte has a defensive rating of 100.4.
The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the best field goal percentages this season, ranking eighth in the league with a FG% of 45.2%. The Charlotte Hornets have a solid 4-2 record in games where opponents have a similar or higher FG%.
Charlotte attempts an average of 26.0 three pointers per game, and Milwaukee attempts 19.0 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, the Hornets have a solid 7-4 record while the Bucks are winless at 0-2.
The Charlotte Hornets are among the best in the league with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.80 (ranked second). Ranking 12th, the Milwaukee Bucks have an A/TO of 1.51.
Milwaukee ranks 30th in rebounds per game with 38.1, while Charlotte ranks 21st with 43.3.
Charlotte is ranked eighth in defensive rebounds, while Milwaukee ranks 18th in offensive rebounds.
Milwaukee is one of the best in the league in forcing turnovers, with opponents averaging a TOV% of 16.1% (ranked seventh). Charlotte is an even 1-1 SU when it has a TOV% of 16.1% or greater.
