The Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27) and Milwaukee Bucks (28-39) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The game will broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
The Cavaliers are 10.5-point favorites over the Bucks on the spread (Cavaliers -10.5), with the over/under set at 228.5 total points. Cleveland is a -470 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Milwaukee is +360 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Cavaliers vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, March 17.
Cavaliers vs Bucks Prediction, Pick
- Cavaliers vs Bucks pick: Cavaliers -10.5 (-110)
My Bucks vs. Cavaliers best bet is on Cleveland to cover the spread. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Cavaliers vs Bucks Odds
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-10.5 -108 | 228.5 -115o / -105u | -470 |
| Bucks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+10.5 -112 | 228.5 -115o / -105u | +360 |
Cavaliers vs Bucks NBA Preview
The Bucks are a mess and will likely be without Giannis Antetokounmpo in tonight's game. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are currently spiraling.
It’s March NBA basketball at its finest in this Central Division showdown!
Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable after suffering a knee injury (after all his other ailments), and everyone is waiting for both Giannis and the Bucks to give up the ghost and shut him down for the season. I’m projecting him out for this game.
Jarrett Allen is out for the Cavaliers, and that's a huge deal.
Cleveland is now 5-12 ATS without Allen, and the Under is 11-6 in those games.
Allen's absence has a major impact on the Cavaliers’ offense and their ability to run spread pick-and-roll.
But ultimately, the Cavaliers are too much for Milwaukee to handle here.
Cavaliers vs Bucks Predictions, Betting Analysis
Cavaliers -10.5
I loved Dallas against the Cavaliers a few days ago, but I think we'll see Cleveland stomp the Bucks without Giannis tonight.
I project the spread for this game at Cavaliers -13.
Jaylon Tyson missed Sunday’s game vs. the Mavericks, and the Cavaliers are now 2-4 without him.
Just having Tyson back, even with Allen out, is enough to get me to lay the points with Cleveland here — albeit unenthusiastically.
Over 228.5
However, my favorite play for tonight's contest is the Over.
I mentioned that the Cavaliers have been an Under machine without Allen — but the Bucks are much more susceptible defensively.
Plus, there’s the fact that even after Giannis exited Sunday's game, the Bucks still hung 130 points on the Pacers.
This Bucks' offense still has some juice with its shooting, and the Cavaliers’ defense is suspect.
In the three prior matchups this season, the total went Under when it was set north of 230, and it went Over when it was set below that.
I make the total for this game 237 points; and think one of these teams will probably score 120 points on their own.
It goes against the Allen trends, but I think this is going to be a barnburner with the Bucks’ shooting prowess and the Cavaliers’ general offensive firepower.
Cavaliers vs Bucks Best Bets
- Cavaliers -10.5 (-110)
- Over 228.5 (-110)
Spread
My first Cavaliers vs. Bucks betting prediction is on Cleveland to cover the spread (-10.5) as double-digit road favorites.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline in tonight's matchup.
Over/Under
However, my favorite bet for this game is on the Over at 228.5 total points.
