Jazz vs Bucks Prediction & Picks (Dec. 17): Will Milwaukee continue a positive trend tonight at home?

After getting routed by 41 points by the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night, the Milwaukee Bucks will look to get back on track tonight at home against the Utah Jazz.

Tonight’s NBA matchup at Fiserv Forum is scheduled to tip off at 8:00 pm ET (7:00 pm local time).

This will be the last home game for the Bucks (20-8, 13-3 home, 2nd in the Eastern Conference) until December 30, as they will embark on a five-game road swing afterwards.

The Jazz (17-14, 6-9 away, 7th in the Western Conference) will be spending most of the rest of 2022 on the road as well. Tonight’s game begins a three-game road swing, then after a home game against the Washington Wizards next Thursday, they hit the road for three more games.

With the road trip coming up, we may see Milwaukee rest some key players tonight. But does that mean you should stay away from betting on them? Read on for our Jazz vs Bucks prediction, as well as our Utah vs Milwaukee picks and betting analysis.

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Utah Jazz vs Milwaukee Bucks Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline as of Saturday, December 17, 2022, at 3:30 pm ET. Odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites may also appear in this article.

Spread

• Utah Jazz +4.5 (-114)
• Milwaukee Bucks -4.5 (-106)

Over/Under

• Over 230 (-110)
• Under 230 (-110)

Moneyline

• Utah Jazz +152
• Milwaukee Bucks -180

Can the Shorthanded Bucks Keep This Hot Trend Going?

Milwaukee will definitely be without Khris Middleton (right knee soreness), who was 1 for 12 and missed all eight of his three-point attempts in Thursday’s 142-101 loss in Memphis.

Jrue Holiday (non-COVID illness) is listed as probable, so we should see him in action tonight at Fiserv Forum.

As for the biggest member of Milwaukee’s Big Three? It remains to be seen if Giannis Antetokounmpo plays tonight, but the two-time NBA MVP is listed as questionable due to left knee soreness.

Whoever takes the court will be trying to uphold a positive trend for Milwaukee.

When the Bucks have lost, they have bounced back with a win in the next game on all but one occasion.

• lost at Atlanta, won at Oklahoma City
• lost at San Antonio, lost vs Atlanta, won vs Cleveland
• lost at Philadelphia, won vs Portland
• lost vs Chicago, won vs Cleveland
• lost vs Lakers, won at Charlotte
• lost at Houston, won vs Golden State

Of those six wins, only one has been decided by fewer than eight points, a 136-132 double-overtime win over the Thunder on November 9.

That was one of two wins out of this bunch that came with Giannis absent. The other was a 105-96 win over the Hornets two weeks ago, in which Bobby Portis led the way in all main statistical categories with 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

Utah Jazz vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction and Picks

Jazz vs Bucks Prediction: Bucks to win

Jazz vs Bucks Picks: Bucks -4.5 (Best Value: -105 at BetMGM)

Often enough, you will see some sort of disparity between sportsbooks, but the spread and the odds are pretty similar across the board at our recommended sportsbooks. But if you want the absolute best number, BetMGM edges out the others.

Utah Jazz vs Milwaukee Bucks Player Props

Jazz vs Bucks Player Prop Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo over 32.5 points

Giannis may not play, but if he does, expect him to have a huge game against Utah.

In Thursday’s loss to the Grizzlies, he was only 5 of 13 from the field and scored just 19 points in 26 minutes.

But in 15 home games, Giannis is averaging 33.5 PPG on 55.1 percent shooting, compared to 25.7 PPG on 48.0 percent shooting in nine road games.

Of his 15 30+ point games this season, 13 have come at home, including each of his three 40-point games and seven of his eight 35-point games.

If you’re interested in betting on this prop tonight, the best number can be found at BetOnline, where he is -106 to hit the over 32.5.

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