Cleveland Cavaliers at Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview

Saturday evening will feature a battle of two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference as the Cleveland Cavaliers (18-12, fourth in East) take on the Milwaukee Bucks (19-12, third in the East). The Bucks will host this one from Fiserv Forum, with tipoff scheduled for 9:00 pm ET.
Heading into play Saturday, the Cavaliers have won three games in a row, including a 124-89 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday.
In the win, Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 21 points while Isaac Okoro added 20. Dean Wade had a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds.
The Bucks will be playing the second game of a back-to-back after losing in overtime to the New Orleans Pelicans, 116-112. Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is in COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the team was led by Jrue Holiday with 40 points.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the slight favorites playing at home. They are -116 to win while the Cavaliers’ moneyline sits at -102. The spread features Cleveland +1 (-108).
More Odds
The Bucks currently have the second-best odds of winning the Eastern Conference at +300. Cleveland is tied for the eighth-best odds of winning the conference at +4200.
In terms of the NBA Championship, the Bucks are +700 to win it all while the Cavaliers are +10000.
By The Numbers
Milwaukee has had the stronger offense to date. They currently rank ninth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 110.6 points per game. The Cavaliers fall to 18th averaging 106.6 points per game.
Defensively, it is Cleveland with the advantage. They rank second in the league in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 101.5 points per game. The Bucks rank 13th allowing 106.6 points.
Cavaliers Continue Surge In East
After finishing 22-50 last year, good for 13th in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken the NBA by storm this season. At 18-12, they are just 3.5 games back of first in the East and have played all season exceptionally. They have especially had success against other conference teams. In fact, against the East, they are 11-6 this season.
Leading the way for Cleveland is point guard Darius Garland. He is averaging 19 points, three rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Center Jarrett Allen has also had a nice start to the season averaging 16.9 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists per game.
Other contributors for the Cavaliers include Lauri Markkanen (14 points, 5.2 rebounds), Evan Mobley (13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds), and Ricky Rubio (12.6 points, 6.5 assists). Mobley is questionable for Saturday as he has been dealing with a hip injury.
Bucks Playing Shorthanded Due To COVID
Anytime that a team loses their star player, the team’s production obviously takes a hit. When it is a perennial MVP contender, it can be devastating.
For the Bucks, that is exactly what they are dealing with. With Giannis Antetokounmpo in COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the Bucks are missing his 27 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.
Even more detrimental is the fact that Khris Middleton has missed time, too. He did not play Friday due to a knee injury. Middleton has averaged 17.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.
Without those two, the main contributors for Milwaukee include Jrue Holiday (16.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists), Grayson Allen (12.7 points), and Pat Connaughton (12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds).
Take Cavaliers To Win
This really just boils down to who Milwaukee doesn’t have. Without their stars, they certainly become more beatable, which was evident as the Pelicans picked up just their 10th win of the season against Milwaukee Friday.
Throw on top of that the fact that Milwaukee is playing the second of a back-to-back, and this seems like a game the Cavaliers can steal.
Take Cleveland to win straight up Saturday night.