The Charlotte Hornets (4-7) and Milwaukee Bucks (7-5) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Bucks are 9.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread (Bucks -9.5), with the over/under set at 238.5 total points. Milwaukee is a -400 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Charlotte is +310 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hornets vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks for Friday, November 14.
My Hornets vs Bucks Prediction
- Hornets vs Bucks pick: Moussa Diabate Over 18.5 Points + Rebounds (-105)
My Bucks vs Hornets best bet is on Moussa Diabate over 18.5 points + rebounds, with the best price currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hornets vs Bucks Odds
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -105 | 238.5 -110o / -110u | +310 |
| Bucks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -115 | 238.5 -110o / -110u | -400 |
Hornets vs Bucks NBA Preview
The Hornets beat the Giannis-less Bucks on Wednesday, 111-100, but we're anticipating a return from the former two-time MVP, who is listed as probable for this game after missing the previous one with a sore knee.
We're also expecting another big return in this one, as Hornets star LaMelo Ball has been upgraded to probable after missing five games to yet another ankle setback.
Kevin Porter Jr. (knee surgery) and Taurean Prince (herniated disc) remain out for Milwaukee.
Charlotte will still be without Brandon Miller (shoulder), though his reevaluation is set to come in a few days.
Also sitting for Charlotte: Starting center Ryan Kalbrenner (personal), Grant Williams (knee), and Josh Green (shoulder) — the latter two have yet to play this season.
Rookie swingman Liam McNeeley is questionable (illness), and two-way guard KJ Simpson (shoulder) is probable.
Hornets vs Bucks Prediction, Betting Analysis
Tonight, I'm backing Moussa Diabate, one of my absolute favorite players in the league.
I have a slight worry that Giannis may grab every rebound imaginable, but without Kalkbrenner, we expect Diabate to start for the Hornets, or at least get bigger minutes.
Diabate is legitimately better this season. The 23-year-old center has greatly increased his free-throw rate from 41.4% up to 73.3% while hitting 68% from the line vs. a previously pedestrian 59.5%.
Diabate's true shooting has jumped from 61 to 68%, and his total rebound percentage is at 20, up 1.2% from last year.
Even in his current role, Diabate has gone over 15.5 points + rebounds seven times in 11 games ��� which is what I played this at.
He's averaging 9.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per contest.
To date, he has only exceeded 23 minutes once, logging 28 against the Lakers, and he actually still went under, finishing with eight and three. Kalkbrenner was in foul trouble.
Due to the lack of center options in Charlotte — i.e., Mason Plumlee — we're expecting a minutes bump from Diabate, even though he might not need it.
This line moved quickly to 18.5 overnight. It's still a play for me, even though I logged it at over 15.5 prior to Buckets Live last night.
Diabate has reached at least 20 points plus rebounds six times off the bench.
Same rules apply, even with 15.5 being long gone.
For what it's worth, the double-double could be in play, but he only has three this season. It's +263 on DraftKings as of this writing.
Milwaukee allowed the eighth most rebounds and sixth most offensive boards per 100 possessions heading into Thursday night, though they're about league average in points allowed in the paint per game (16th).
I may hold out for a better number, but follow me on the Action App to see if I log, if you care that deeply.
Pick: Moussa Diabate Over 18.5 Points + Rebounds (-105, BetMGM)
Bucks vs Hornets Betting Trends
