Following back-to-back losses earlier this week, the Milwaukee Bucks (46-27) find themselves in danger of losing the Eastern Conference's two seed, possessing just a 1.5-game lead.
Tonight in the NBA odds, they will travel to take on the Atlanta Hawks (34-39) who are making a push for the play-in tournament and are fresh off a 44-point performance from Dejounte Murray.
Can Murray and the Hawks take advantage of a reeling and cornered Bucks team? Or will Milwaukee set things straight in Atlanta and keep some distance between them and the rest of the Eastern Conference?
Bucks vs Hawks predictions
My best bet: Hawks +4 (-105 at bet365)
The Doc Rivers mid-season hiring experiment was looking to turn a corner in late February after the Milwaukee Bucks rattled off six straight wins, but things have gone sideways again ever since. The Bucks have gone 5-6 since the start of this month, bringing their record with Rivers to 14-13 after starting 30-13 with Adrian Griffin.
And there isn't anything underneath that disappointing record with Rivers that nurtures optimism. They are just 14th in net rating since he has taken over (they ranked ninth before that), which includes an offensive rating that's good for 15th (third before Rivers) and a defensive rating that ranks just 14th despite Rivers' reputation as a defensive-minded coach (19th prior to Rivers).
Those marks don't particularly separate the Bucks from the Atlanta Hawks, who are 20th on the season in net rating and an impressive eighth in offensive rating. Atlanta's issues this season have been on the defensive end, but they've turned things around in the last month. Since late February, the Hawks have ranked 16th in defensive rating, having held opponents to 100 or fewer points in seven of their 18 games.
The Hawks also play at the sixth-fastest pace in the NBA, and those types of teams have not been fun for the Bucks this year even though they play at the fifth-fastest pace. All signs point toward another disappointing Milwaukee performance tonight.
Bucks vs Hawks same-game parlay
Hawks +4
Dejounte Murray Over 26.5 points
Dejounte Murray Over 8.5 assists
The Bucks allow the second-most points to opposing point guards this season, which could mean another big game for Dejounte Murray.
The Hawks guard is coming off of his massive 44-point performance in a double overtime win, and he also scored 30 in his last outing against the Bucks.
After a few games adjusting to life without Trae Young, Murray has settled in rather nicely. In his last 11 games now he has averaged 29.2 points, 9.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 47.1% from the field and 40.5% from three.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Bucks vs Hawks odds and trends
Bucks vs Hawks opening odds
- Spread: Milwaukee -4.5 |Atlanta +4.5
- Moneyline: Milwaukee -190 | Atlanta +155
- Over/Under: Over 223.5 | Under 223.5
Bucks vs Hawks spread and Over/Under analysis
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The Hawks have covered in four straight, which is part of a larger 13-game stretch during which they've gone 8-5.
- Milwaukee has been better this year against the spread (32-40-1), but their 44.1% cover rate places them in the bottom six on the year. And they haven't been great coming off of a loss either, having gone 10-15-1 (40.0%), which is good for the third-worst cover rate in that split.
- Atlanta has gone 40-32-1 towards the Over this year, good for an Over rate of 55.6% — the second-highest mark in the Association.
- The Bucks are 37-35-1 to the Under this year, putting them near dead-even relative to the rest of the league in terms of total performance.
Bucks vs Hawks betting trend to know
The Hawks have hit the moneyline in seven of their last eight home games (+15.10 Units / 94% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Hawks.
Bucks vs Hawks game info
| Location: | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA |
| Date: | Saturday, March 30, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: |
Bally Wisconsin, Bally SE Atlanta |
Not intended for use in MA.
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