Clippers vs Bucks Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Hardened Clippers Handle Bucks

Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers will make the trip to Fiserv Forum on Monday night as they take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, and we have you covered with our best bet for this matchup using the latest NBA odds. 

The Los Angeles Clippers will be on the back end of a back-to-back on Monday, and not just any back-to-back. They played a grueling, low-scoring affair against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, which saw the Clippers emerge victorious with a score of 89-88. 

With the Clippers having to make the trip to Milwaukee and take on a surging Bucks team, our pick for this game might surprise you. 

Read on to see my free NBA picks for Clippers vs. Bucks on Monday, March 4th.

Clippers vs Bucks odds

Clippers vs Bucks predictions

The Los Angeles Clippers might be on the back end of a back-to-back, but it's the injury report for the Milwaukee Bucks that is more up in the air. Outside of Russell Westbrook being out with a fractured hand, the Clippers are ready to roll. However, for the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is questionable with an Achilles injury.

I think the easy narrative for this game between the Bucks and Clippers is to back the Bucks because of the Clippers' game against the Timberwolves on Sunday. The Clippers will be tired, and it's a scheduled loss, a tough spot for any team to face the top team in the Western Conference and then the Bucks on a back-to-back.

Save all these narratives for someone else because that's why we have a spread to even out the playing field, and with the Clippers catching 5.5 points on Monday against the Bucks, I think the Clippers offer the better side. The Bucks should be closer to a 4-point favorite against the Clippers, so you're getting an extra point and a half here by going against the grain and backing the Clippers.

The Clippers don't have the luxury of sitting out players or not showing up for a game like teams in the Eastern Conference might have. The standings for the playoffs in the Western Conference are extremely tight, and if you don't bring it every night, you could find yourself in the Play-In Tournament. The Clippers have more breathing room than some other teams, but that doesn't mean you want to give that away. 

If the Clippers were playing this same back-to-back in November, my stance might be completely different, but the Western Conference is just way too tight to assume a team would just throw in the towel.

The strength of the Bucks' defense is their interior and ability to protect the rim. The Bucks have really picked up their overall defense of late, as they have the second-best defensive rating in the NBA over the last 10 games at 106.4. 

For a team that likes to score in the paint, the Bucks pose a real problem on defense, but the Clippers have 6 players shooting 39.4% from deep or better. The role players who can shoot the ball, such as Norman Powell or Amir Coffey, should help create space against this Bucks defense and give Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden more room to operate.

I said earlier that I believe the Bucks should be a 4-point favorite over the Clippers instead of a 5.5-point favorite. If I have the Clippers projected at +4, that means the spread of Clippers +5.5 is worth -125 to me, but we are able to buy it at Caesars at -105, creating a probability gap we can exploit.

My best bet: Clippers +5.5 (-105 at Caesars)

Clippers vs Bucks same-game parlay

Clippers +5.5

James Harden Over 8.5 assists

James Harden Over 16.5 points

33% boost available

+425 +565 at Caesars

If the Clippers are going to cover the 5.5 points against the Bucks on Monday, I think we are going to need a big game from Harden. The Bucks have one of the better defensive units in the NBA at the moment, but their weak point is at the point of attack with Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley. This is an area we will need Harden to exploit and help generate offense for his teammates.

Offense won't come as easily for George, who should draw Jae Crowder, and Leonard, who should draw Antetokounmpo, as their primary defenders. We should see Harden hunting matchups against Lillard, knifing his way through the lane to create open looks around the rim for his bigs and shots from three for his shooters. 

With a total of 16.5, Harden also has a slight edge with the Over on his points prop. I think you could also look at using Harden on the Over for his threes-made prop, but I'm going to roll with the points prop. I feel like there could be an emphasis on Harden attacking Lillard and forcing him to play defense the entire way to the rim, maybe even getting Lillard in foul trouble, instead of settling for a three-pointer, especially after Harden went 0-6 from three on Sunday against the Timberwolves.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Clippers vs Bucks spread and Over/Under analysis

The Bucks opened as a 4.5-point favorite at Caesars, and while the spread did touch as high as Bucks -6, we have seen it come back down to Bucks -5.5. We're seeing a lot of sportsbooks offer the Clippers at +5.5, but Caesars offers the best juice at -105.

The total opened at DraftKings at 230, and it has moved towards the Under by four and a half points to 225.5. It's been a steady decline for the total with really no resistance from the market. I wouldn't be shocked if we continue to see this number move toward the Under until the market shows some support for the Over and it settles into its closing number.

Clippers vs Bucks betting trend to know

The LA Clippers have hit the 1H Moneyline in 20 of their last 33 away games (+11.75 Units / 23% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Bucks.

Clippers vs Bucks game info

Clippers vs Bucks latest injuries

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