Hornets vs Bucks Picks and Predictions: Giannis & Co. End January With a Bang

The Charlotte Hornets (15-36) may as well be effectively eliminated from playoff contention, but that hasn't stopped them from putting up a fight as of late. The Hornets have won back-to-back and four of their last six after their 122-117 win on Sunday against the Heat, with Terry Rozier scoring a team-high 31 points — his sixth straight game as the team's leading scorer.

On Tuesday night, they will travel to face the Milwaukee Bucks (33-17), who are winners of six of their last seven and have gotten a noticeable boost since both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton returned a week ago. They have scored 130 or more in six of their last eight and will look to keep the ball rolling.

Can Giannis and Milwaukee put up another monstrous offensive performance, or will Terry Rozier and the stubborn Hornets sting the Bucks in their own home?

Find out in our free NBA picks and predictions for Hornets vs. Bucks on January 31.

Hornets vs Bucks best odds

Hornets vs Bucks picks and predictions

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the world, and that is often not enough for the two-time MVP. Close observers of Giannis throughout his career have noted that the superstar tends to turn it up a notch when he and the Bucks are being forgotten or dismissed in the at-large NBA conversation.

So, with most of the NBA world clamoring over Nikola Jokic's potential three-peat as MVP or Luka Doncic's MVP-caliber play that has trailed close behind, Giannis has given a reason as of late to re-enter his name into the fold. Antetokounmpo scored 29 points in his return from injury on January 23 and has since improved upon that number in every game since.

That culminated in a 50-point performance on Sunday in a convincing 135-110 win against the Pelicans. That marks his 24th 30+ point game and his 10th 40+ point outing on the season, all despite having played just 39 games. He also has averaged 12.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 2022-23, further demonstrating his value.

Since his return, Milwaukee has ranked in the Top-5 in both offensive and defensive rating, culminating in a league-best 14.3 net rating. 

Granted, it hasn't been just all Giannis. Khris Middleton's return also coincided with the Greek Freak's, and outside of a short eight-game stretch in early December, it was Middleton's first game action of the season. Middleton has come off the bench since his return and has performed admirably in that role while he gets back up to game speed (11.0 ppg and 3.8 apg in 15.5 minutes per game).

On top of that, Jrue Holiday has been playing extraordinarily well, bearing a lot of the weight while both of his co-stars were out. Since January 11, he has averaged 23.7 points, 7.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while shooting 51.7% from the field and 36.5% from deep. Without Holiday's elevated play in their absence, the Bucks would likely be closer to the play-in seeds than their current two seed.

Opposite of them tonight is a more one-dimensional team being carried currently by the scoring output of Terry Rozier. The point guard has led the Hornets in scoring in six straight games, averaging 26.8 points during that time while shooting a monstrous 41.0% from deep and averaging 10.2 attempts per game. The Hornets have won four of those six games and against formidable teams like the Heat, Hawks, and Bulls.

But unfortunately for Rozier and the Hornets, the Bucks will pose too difficult of a challenge for them tonight. Rozier will have to go through his own personal hell of being guarded by Holiday and Giannis, while Brook Lopez will convincingly neutralize Mason Plumlee, who has been a spark for the Hornets as of late.

The number may seem large, but it is certainly short against this iteration of the Bucks.

My best bet: Bucks -11 (-110 at WynnBet)

Hornets vs Bucks spread analysis

The spread opened with the Bucks as 12-point favorites, but it has since moved to -11 at most books. 

Charlotte is one of the league's worst teams against the spread (22-27-2), covering at the fifth-lowest rate (44.9%). They have covered in four of their last six.

The Hornets have covered in back-to-back games as well but have done so in three straight games just once this season.

Conversely, the Bucks are 27-20-3 ATS and have the third-best cover rate in the league at 57.5%. They have gone 17-8 (68.0%) as home favorites — the second-best mark on the season.

In games with no rest disparity (both teams played Sunday), Charlotte has gone just 12-17-1 ATS to Milwaukee's record of 14-11.

Hornets vs Bucks Over/Under analysis

The total opened at 239 and has since flown up to the 244 range — by far the highest mark of the night.

The Hornets are 19-9 to the Over as the away team — the third-highest rate of road Overs in the league. Charlotte has also gone Over the total in nine of their last 13. However, in totals of 240 or above, the Hornets have went 4-2 to the Under. Tonight's total would mark the highest of the season.

Meanwhile, the Bucks have slightly favored the Over this season, having gone 26-24 (52.0%) that way this year. They have also cashed the Over in five of the last seven and are 17-8 to the Over at Fiserv Forum.

Milwaukee has not played in a game with a total of 240 or higher yet this season, but the Bucks hit the Over in eight of 10 games with a total of at least 230. 

Hornets vs Bucks betting trend to know

Tonight's total of 244 marks the highest total on the season for both teams. Milwaukee has played in 10 games with a total of 230 or more and has gone 8-2 to the Over. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Bucks.

Hornets vs Bucks game info

Hornets vs Bucks key injuries

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