Bucks vs. Hawks prediction and odds for Wednesday, January 11 (Can Hawks grab upset?)
By Peter Dewey
For the fourth time this season, the Atlanta Hawks take on the Milwaukee Bucks, this time in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
The Hawks have underachieved so far this season, currently sitting two games below .500 and holding the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee is in the No. 3 spot in the conference, but it hasn’t been able to get to full strength with Khris Middleton missing most of the season to date with injuries.
Middleton is out again tonight for the Bucks. Milwaukee is just 4-6 in its last 10 games, but it does get a break with Clint Capela out for the Hawks.
That leaves Atlanta with one less body to throw at Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Hawks have won the last two matchups between these teams.
The Hawks are slightly better at home this season, going 11-8 straight up, but can they take the season series with Milwaukee tonight?
The odds have Milwaukee set as the favorite. Here’s my best bet for this game:
Bucks vs. Hawks odds, spread and total
Bucks vs. Hawks prediction and pick
The Bucks have four wins in their last 10 games, but they have been downright awful over that stretch, ranking 28th in the NBA in net rating.
Milwaukee rode a huge comeback to beat the New York Knicks on the road on Monday, but I don’t know if I can trust the Bucks in this spot, especially with Middleton out.
The Bucks rank 25th in the NBA in offensive rating this season, and they could be in for a fast-paced game tonight against Atlanta (fifth in pace), who has also underachieved on offense.
Still, the Hawks have been solid at home this season, especially as underdogs, going 3-1 against the spread in those games.
Atlanta matches up pretty well with the Bucks even with Capela out, as John Collins and Onyeka Okongwu are athletic defenders to throw at Giannis.
The Bucks have some ugly losses to Charlotte, Washington and Chicago over this cold stretch, and I think they add another against the Hawks on Wednesday night.
Back Atlanta as an underdog to pull off the upset.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.