NBA Game Preview and Odds: Bucks vs Cavaliers
Published December 21, 2016 by Sol FH
The Cavaliers host the Bucks tonight at 1:00 GMT and hope to dominate after a close call last night.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are back at home tonight and face the same team that they did yesterday, the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks almost gave the Cavs their seventh loss of the season last night, sending the game into overtime. The Cavs dominated the first first quarter 35-27, but the Bucks came back before halftime narrowing the Cavs' lead to just three-points. The third quarter was a tight one, but the Bucks began to run in the fourth outscoring the Cavs 22-16 to send the game into OT tied at 100 apiece. Led by Lebron James, the Cavs scored 14 in OT and left the Bucks in their dust to win the game.
Tonight, the Bucks will have an even more difficult time of winning as the actions heads to Quicken Loans Arena, where the Cavs are 13-2 this year. Milwaukee seems to be a team on the rise, having beat the Bulls in back to back games prior to facing Cleveland. Prior to last night's loss they were the 5th seeded team in the Eastern Conference (now 8th), but they look very good and this could be the start to a series of wins, pending they don't get blown out tonight.
The Cavs are still reigning over the East, but they are 7-3 over their last 10 and after last night, it looks like they could be stopped by a few teams in the league right now. Lebron and Irving were incredible last night, which is usually the case. The Cavs controlled rebounds with multiple players at 12, but the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo led all with 13. Jabari Parker led the Bucks' scoring with 30, but James outscored all with 34.
Prediction
The Cavs are just too strong at home, even with a close game last night. Expect this won to improve Cleveland's' record with a close victory 112-107.
NBA Betting Odds
Bet365 Sports will be offering punters the usual interactive betting experience with live in play markets posted throughout the game. The Cavs are outright favorites, but the Bucks could surprise.
