The Milwaukee Bucks (16-21) and Los Angeles Lakers (23-12) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.
The Lakers are 3.5-point favorites over the Bucks on the spread (Lakers -3.5), with the over/under set at 229.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -162 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Milwaukee is +136 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Bucks vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Friday, January 9.
Bucks vs Lakers Prediction
- Bucks vs Lakers pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 41.5 Points + Rebounds
My Bucks vs Lakers best bet is on Giannis Antetokounmpo to go over his points + rebounds total, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Bucks vs Lakers Odds
| Bucks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -115 | 229.5 -112o / -108u | +136 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -105 | 229.5 -112o / -108u | -162 |
Bucks vs Lakers NBA Preview
The Bucks will continue their West Coast road trip, heading to Los Angeles to battle the Lakers. Thus far, they have split the first two games with a 115-98 victory over the Kings and a 120-113 loss to the Warriors.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 30 points in both games on this trip as well as in four of his last six games since returning from injury. He is averaging 29.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game this season.
The Bucks are 3-3 since Antetokounmpo returned and 5-5 over their last 10 games, but they will need to be a bit better than .500 to solidify their playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks are a half-game back of the 10th seed and 4.5 games back of Orlando for the sixth seed.
Meanwhile, the Lakers will be back home after splitting a back-to-back with New Orleans and San Antonio.
LeBron James did not play in San Antonio on the second night of the back-to-back. As he put it, back-to-backs are TBD for the rest of the season, as he has played the most minutes in NBA history. Despite the mileage, he has picked his game up of late.
James has averaged 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists over his last 10 games. He is questionable for tonight's game with sciatica and a foot injury. If he does play, it will be his first game against Milwaukee since 2023.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic put together another 30-game against San Antonio, his 21st of the season.
However, neither he nor James has gotten much help from their supporting cast lately. DeAndre Ayton is averaging 12 points over his last 10 games, which he has failed to reach in six of them.
Rui Hachimura may return from a right calf strain that has kept him out since December 28th. Meanwhile, Austin Reaves will be out once again with his left calf strain.
Bucks vs Lakers Prediction, Betting Analysis
Antetokounmpo has scored 30 points in each of his last four games and 29 points in seven of his last 10 games.
He has also flirted with 30 points in his last five games against the Lakers. He has scored 30 points in two of those games and finished with 28 and 29 points in two others.
Antetokounmpo has not been as dominant on the glass as he typically is, but he enters this game with four consecutive points-and-rebounds double-doubles.
He has recorded 40+ PR in each of those games, and 44+ in three of them. He also has cleared 41.5 PR in three of his last five games against the Lakers, and I like his chances of doing so again tonight.
Doncic has scored 30 points in each of his last six games. He has also tormented the Bucks, scoring 35 points in his last four games against them.
James scored 23 points in eight of his last 10 games as the Lakers have mostly been without Reaves.
Milwaukee is 18th in points allowed to point guards and 20th to small forwards, which will help both Doncic and James.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 41.5 Points + Rebounds (-110, DraftKings)
Bucks vs Lakers Parlay Picks
- Giannis Antetokounmpo 40+ Points and Rebounds
- Luka Doncic 30+ Points
- LeBron James Over 23.5 Points
Parlay Odds: +305 via DraftKings
