NBA

Milwaukee Bucks vs Houston Rockets Prediction 11-18-24 NBA Picks

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2m ago

Nov 18, 2024 / 4164 Views

Evan Walker

Houston Rockets (9-4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (4-9)
November 18, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Milwaukee Bucks -3.5; Over/Under: +218.5
(Get latest betting odds)

The Houston Rockets and the Milwaukee Bucks duke it out at the Fiserv Forum on Monday night. Here’s a Milwaukee Bucks vs Houston Rockets Prediction. This article will include a Milwaukee Bucks vs Houston Rockets.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have been in red-hot form as they’ve reeled off seven wins in their last eight games and they will be eager to build on their current five-game win streak after making light work of the Bulls in a 143-107 road win last night. Fred VanVleet led the team with 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Alperen Sengun added a triple-double of 20 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists while Jalen Green chipped in with 18 points on six of nine shooting. As a team, the Rockets shot 52 percent from the field and 10 of 34 from the 3-point line as they took control of the contest with a 41-point explosion in the second quarter and they just kept their foot on the gas, pouring in another 75 points in the second half to make it look easy in the end.

Milwaukee Bucks

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks have been in a slump as they’ve lost nine of their first 13 games overall and they will be hoping to bounce back after falling painfully short to the Hornets in a 115-114 road defeat on Saturday. Taurean Prince led the team in scoring with 23 points and five assists on nine of 14 shooting, Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied a triple-double of 22 points with 15 rebounds and 12 assists while Bobby Portis chipped in with 21 points in 24 minutes off the bench. As a team, the Bucks shot 51 percent from the field and 15 of 36 from the 3-point line as they stormed out of the gates with 39 points in the first quarter to take the early lead and they were actually in front by one point late in the game before the Hornets’ LaMelo Ball drained the game-winning free throws with just 7.1 seconds left on the clock.

Why the Houston Rockets will win

The Bucks have lost each of their last four games as favorites against Southwest Division opponents.
The Rockets have won 12 of their last 13 games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Bucks.
The Rockets have covered the spread in each of their last seven games as underdogs when playing with a rest disadvantage.
The Bucks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games against Southwest Division opponents.

Total Points Facts

Each of the Bucks’ last six games at Fiserv Forum following a road loss have gone UNDER the total points line.
Each of the Rockets’ last six road games following a road win have gone UNDER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

The Bucks rank T1st in the league for opponent steals per game this season (6.8).
The Bucks rank 30th in the league for opponent free throw percentage this season (82.5%).
The Rockets rank 1st in the league for opponent assists per game this season (21.9).
The Rockets rank 1st in the league for rebounds per game this season (50.7).

Milwaukee Bucks vs Houston Rockets Prediction

The Rockets are still a little shorthanded with Steven Adams still ruled out, while the Bucks are missing Khris Middleton. It’s a classic case of two teams headed in opposite directions with the Rockets flying high and the Bucks really struggling with the injuries that are piling up. The good news for the Bucks is that Damian Lillard is listed as probable to return for this game, but that won’t sway me from taking the Rockets who represent great value as the underdogs against a stumbling Bucks team missing some players.