The Atlanta Hawks (31-31) and Milwaukee Bucks (26-34) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The Bucks are 1.5-point favorites over the Hawks on the spread (Bucks -1.5), with the over/under set at 232.5 total points. Milwaukee is a -120 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Atlanta is +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hawks vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, March 4.
Hawks vs Bucks Prediction, Picks
- Hawks vs Bucks pick: Jonathan Kuminga Over 14.5 Points
My Hawks vs Bucks best bet is on Jonathan Kuminga to score over 14.5 points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hawks vs Bucks Odds
| Hawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -115 | 233.5 -105o / -115u | +100 |
| Bucks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -105 | 233.5 -105o / -115u | -120 |
Hawks vs Bucks NBA Preview
Last Wednesday, the Bucks defeated the Cavaliers for their eighth win in 10 tries.
They had worked themselves back to the periphery of the Play-In Tournament race. However, the Bucks were on the wrong side of a 27-0 run on Sunday in Chicago.
They did get their star Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup on Monday night after he missed 15 games.
However, despite the absence of Jaylen Brown, the Bucks were blown out by the Celtics on Monday night.
They have now lost three straight and are four games back of the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.
Antetokounmpo had his 18th double-double in 31 games this season with 19 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes.
However, with his points line at 19.5, Antetokounmpo gave his backers one of the worst beats by missing his last seven field goal attempts. His line tonight is 25.5, which is closer to normal for him.
While the Bucks decided to hold on to Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline, one player they were reported to have interest in as a centerpiece was Milwaukee native Jalen Johnson.
The Hawks got their All-Star forward back in the lineup on Sunday against the Trail Blazers.
By his standards, he had a quiet game with eight points, eight rebounds and eight assists. However, he has had three consecutive double-doubles against the Bucks, two of which were in Milwaukee.
The Hawks did not need much from Johnson on Sunday as they cruised to a 135-101 victory over Portland.
Over his first three NBA seasons, center Onyeka Okongwu attempted just 16 3-pointers. He launched 12 on Sunday, knocking down seven of them en route to 25 points and 10 rebounds. Okongwu has a double-double in five of his last six games.
The Hawks also have gotten key contributions from trade acquisitions Jonathan Kuminga, Jock Landale and CJ McCollum. They have won five of their last six games out of the All-Star break.
The Hawks are now two games back of the Magic for both the seventh seed and the Southeast Division title, as the top four teams in the Southeast Division would currently make the entire Play-In Tournament in the East.
Hawks vs Bucks Predictions, Betting Analysis
Jonathan Kuminga 15+ Points
As Hawks fans were enjoying their team's win on Sunday, they began chanting "Thank You Warriors" as a sign of appreciation for Kuminga's play.
Kuminga likely was never going to be among Steve Kerr's favorites, so the trade may not be a big loss for the Warriors, but he certainly has been impactful for Atlanta thus far.
In three games with Atlanta, Kuminga is averaging 21.3 points in 26.7 minutes per game.
Now, that does require some context, as Johnson missed most of one game and all of another.
However, Kuminga scored 20 points on Sunday with Johnson back. Additionally, while a Warrior, Kuminga scored 20 points in three of his last four games against the Bucks, averaging 20.5 per game.
Kuminga is shooting 67.7% from the field in his first three games as a member of the Hawks.
I am riding the hot hand here, as I like him to score at least 15 if he gets 25 minutes off the bench tonight.
Jalen Johnson to Record a Double-Double
Johnson has seemed to enjoy playing against his hometown team.
He has averaged 20 points and 11.5 rebounds in his last four games against them.
He has 38 double-doubles in 55 games this season.
While I am expecting him to get 10 rebounds tonight, he is always capable of getting it with assists as well, as he has had 10 assists in four of his last 10 games.
Onyeka Okongwu to Record a Double-Double
Okongwu has had at least nine rebounds in each of his last four games against the Bucks, with 10 rebounds in three of them.
He secured a double-double in two of those games.
He struggled from the field (0-for-6) against the Bucks on Martin Luther King Day, but he enters this matchup having scored 10 points in nine of his last 10 games.
With a double-double in five of his last six games, we get great value with an over +200 price tonight.
CJ McCollum 15+ Points
For the final leg of this parlay, I like McCollum for 15 points as well.
He is averaging 18.6 points per game as a Hawk and has scored 15 points or more in seven of his last eight games.
He also has scored 15 points in four of his last five against the Bucks, including 17 in the MLK game, one of his first as a Hawk.
Hawks vs Bucks Best Bet
- Jonathan Kuminga Over 14.5 Points (-102, DraftKings)
Hawks vs Bucks Parlay Picks
- Jonathan Kuminga 15+ Points
- CJ McCollum 15+ Points
- Jalen Johnson to Record a Double-Double
- Onyeka Okongwu to Record a Double-Double
Parlay Odds: +1400 via DraftKings
