The nightcap of Saturday’s NBA schedule is an intriguing one as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks visit James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Milwaukee is hot, winning eight of nine games overall, but will still be underdogs against a Los Angeles team that has won five of seven and is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games overall.
With what oddsmakers expect to be a tight matchup, my Bucks vs. Clippers predictions highlight a player prop that brings the value.
Here are my NBA picks for this star-showdown set to tip off at 10:30 pm ET at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 25.
Bucks vs Clippers prediction
My best bet
Norm Powell Over 3.5 Rebounds (+115 at bet365)
My analysis
After a slow start to the season, the Milwaukee Bucks have really picked up their play. They have won eight of their last nine games, including the last five in a row, going 7-2 ATS in the process and now sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 257-17 record.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to play at an MVP level, averaging 31.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game, but a big part of this Bucks hot streak is because of Dame Lillard. Dame is putting up 36.2 points while shooting a ridiculous 48.6% from 3-point range during this nine-game run.
But they’ll be in for a tough one against a Los Angeles Clippers team that is playing well and is getting healthy.
L.A. has won five of seven and has climbed into sixth spot in the West thanks to their tenacious defense that ranks second in the NBA in defensive rating and sixth in opponent effective field goal percentage.
On top of that, Kawhi Leonard is getting healthier by the day, while the offense still runs through James Harden, who is averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Coming into this one, Milwaukee and L.A. have identical net ratings. Basically, this is going to be a tight game (backed up by the fact that this spread sits at Clippers -2.5 as of Saturday afternoon). So, little edges won’t just make the difference, it will help us find betting value in the player prop market.
One edge the Clippers should have will be on the boards. L.A. ranks seventh in rebounding rate, and while Milwaukee has Giannis, the Bucks aren’t a great rebounding team, ranking 18th in rebounding rate and 21st in opponent rebounds per game.
That brings me back to Norman Powell. Powell has had some solid seasons in his career, but you can make the case he’s been a breakout star for the Clippers this year, averaging a career-high 23.7 points. He also contributes 3.4 rebounds per game but that is up to 3.9 over his last nine games.
Powell also plays a lot of minutes, and the Bucks are playing at the eighth-highest pace in the NBA during their nine-game hot streak. That should mean more possessions for Powell to grab some boards.
His rebounding total is sitting at 3.5 for this one, with the Over at nice plus money. That, combined with the fact Powell has eclipsed this number in six of his last nine games, is enough to have me fire on this bet.
Bucks vs Clippers same-game parlay
Powell Over 3.5 Rebounds
Harden Over 5.5 Rebounds
Under 226.5
Powell isn’t the only Clippers guard I like to pull down some boards tonight. Let’s add James Harden Over 5.5 rebounds, to this same-game parlay as well.
The Clippers offense runs through Harden and he does it all averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game this season. This is a number he’s gone Over in 22 of the 41 games he’s played this season, and the matchup against the Bucks is a good one for rebounds.
And let’s close this SGP out with the Under 226.5. Since the calendar flipped to 2025, these have been two of the best teams in the NBA at preventing buckets. The Clippers lead the NBA in defensive rating, while the Bucks are fourth.
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Bucks vs Clippers odds
Bucks vs Clippers live odds
Bucks vs Clippers opening odds
- Spread: Milwaukee +2 | Los Angeles -2
- Moneyline: Milwaukee +110 | Los Angeles -130
- Over/Under: Over 221 | Under 221
Odds courtesy of bet365
Bucks vs Clippers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Clippers opened this NBA matchup as 2-point home favorites and have seen the early action with the spread now in the 2.5-3 range.
- This is a very tough matchup to call with both teams playing well heading into this matchup. Their net ratings are identical, and this would be close to a Pick'em on a neutral court. With both teams covering a lot of spread recently I'm staying away from picking a side here.
- The total has seen some interesting action. It opened at 221 and the Over got hammered shooting the number all the way up to 227 before a little Under money brought the total to the current 226.5.
- I would lean toward agreeing with the late action. This number got far too big and the Under looks like the right side considering how well both teams are playing defensively these days.
Bucks vs Clippers trend
The Clippers have hit the Game Total Under in 52 of their last 90 games dating back to last season for +12.50 Units and a 13% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Clippers.
How to watch Bucks vs Clippers
| Location | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California |
| Date | Saturday, 1-25-2025 |
| Tip-off | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN, NBAC |
Bucks vs Clippers latest injuries
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