The NBA retakes center stage on Monday night with a 10-game schedule. The latest contest on deck tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET as we get some late-window action on the West Coast. The Los Angeles Clippers have been fighting for better positioning in the Play-In Tournament picture out in the Western Conference, and they’ll fight against a Milwaukee Bucks roster that’s seen its share of hardship lately.
Here’s a Bucks vs. Clippers prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Monday’s contest.
Bucks vs. Clippers prediction, preview
Milwaukee Bucks
The season was lost long ago for Milwaukee due to various injuries to superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now, he’s sidelined once again as the team comes off another rough patch at 3-7 across its last 10 games and just 29-41 overall, 7.5 games back of the final Play-In Tournament spot. Things are dire, plain and simple.
The Bucks’ NETRTG of -5.3 comes in at 25th in the league and they rank 23rd in pace. The offense is an interesting one, producing the second-fewest PPG at 111.0 despite shooting 47.9% from the field and 38.7% from three, which both rank top eight. The standout efficiency creates something of a conundrum given that they’re only 25th in OFFRTG, but perhaps some turnover issues play into that mark as well since they’re 22nd in AST/TO ratio. Looking toward the other side of the ball, Milwaukee allows 116.2 PPG (18th) but also ranks 25th in DEFRTG as well. The unit is also just 28th in rebounding with 40.9 boards a night.
With Antetokounmpo out, Kevin Porter Jr. is the Bucks’ leading scorer with 17.4 points and 7.4 assists a night. He’s complemented in the backcourt by Ryan Rollins, who brigs 16.9 points and 5.6 dimes a night with a 41.3% 3P%. In the frontcourt, Bobby Portis scores 13.7 a game with 6.4 rebounds and a blazing 45.9% 3P% himself. Myles Turner averages 12.0 points and 5.3 boards, and Kyle Kuzma also brings double-digit scoring but is questionable tonight.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clips haven’t had a fantastic season by any means at 35-36, punting on key players like James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline to begin a more future-oriented approach. However, they’ve still hung around and are 5-5 over their last 10 outings, sitting eighth in the Western Conference.
A +0.6 NETRTG on the season is good for 17th overall, and the team falls 28th in pace as well. Los Angeles’ offense ranks 23rd in scoring with 113.5 PPG, though the 12th-best OFFRTG does look better on paper. The team shoots 48.4% overall (third best) and 36.4% from downtown (eighth best), showing upside even in the post-Harden era. Granted, the Clippers are last in assists and 26th in AST/TO ratio. They bring in only 40.6 rebounds, second fewest of any team. They also allow just 113.0 PPG, 10th fewest, though they’re 19th in DEFRTG.
Superstar Kawhi Leonard is questionable with an ankle sprain and has missed two of his last four games. He’s elite when active though, bringing 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals a night with some standout shooting splits. Darius Garland is fresh off a 41-point outing and averages 21.4 points with 7.0 assists as a Clipper. Bennedict Mathurin is out and John Collins are both questionable, which could leave the team down another pair of double-digit scorers.
Bucks vs. Clippers pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Clippers as -13.5 favorites tonight with -800 odds on the Moneyline. The Bucks are listed at +550 odds on the ML with the game total set at 221.5 combined points.
The injury to Leonard does hang over this one, and if he misses, then this spread will almost certainly move to something that reflects a more even matchup. However, Mathurin missing tonight also plays a major role since he averages nearly 20 PPG for the Clips. These are factors that should make bettors feel more bullish about the Bucks’ chances to cover, especially when you consider that L.A. hasn’t covered a -13.5 spread itself in any of its last six games. That comes despite matchups against the Pelicans (twice), the Kings, the Bulls and the Mavericks. This feels like a pretty brutal cold stretch as the Clippers come back to earth. Milwaukee has been in its share of blowouts this season, but should keep this game within the margin tonight, especially if Leonard misses.
Top pick: MIL Bucks +13.5 (-115)
