Bucks vs. Thunder Predictions: Emirates NBA Cup odds, picks and participant props

On Tuesday, December 17, the Milwaukee Bucks will face the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Emirates Basketball Cup. This has been an thrilling event to this point, and the finals must be no totally different. These video games have been very aggressive all through the occasion, however that is the sport wherein every participant from the championship crew will stroll away from T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada with $500,000. Nevertheless, preserve studying the percentages, picks and participant props for this recreation, and remember to take a look at as nicely Our live VSiN programming For additional evaluation. Our proficient hosts and analysts are certain to spend a while speaking about these video games.

MORE: Head to our Pro Picks page for the best bets from all of our VSiN hosts and analysts!

The best way to watch the Bucks and Thunder match

when: Tuesday, December 17 at 8:30 PM ET

the place: T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada

channel: ABC

Bucks vs Thunder odds

Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of Monday, December sixteenth. Go searching for the most effective costs!

Cash line: Thunder -185, Bucks +154

Unfold: Thunder -4.5 (-110), Bucks +4.5 (-110)

the overall: Greater than 215 (-108), lower than 215 (-112)

Bucks vs. Thunder evaluation

The Thunder at the moment are 17-2 straight up with Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein within the lineup. Oklahoma Metropolis can also be first within the league in adjusted internet score (105.4), and that is the most effective mark the crew has posted since Milwaukee had an adjusted defensive score of 103.1 in 2019-20. It’s totally troublesome to attain in opposition to the Thunder. Nevertheless, Oklahoma Metropolis is not fairly good. The crew sits simply seventh in adjusted offensive score (114.9) proper now, and the Thunder have put quite a bit on the shoulders of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 26-year-old is averaging 30.3 factors and 6.3 assists per recreation, so he can positively deal with that. However in a recreation like this, it is a bit laborious to think about Oklahoma Metropolis successful simply with out anybody actually stepping up. Possibly Jalen Williams will try this. He had a profession yr with the Thunder, averaging 21.7 factors and 5.0 assists per recreation. He is an awesome No. 2 in Oklahoma Metropolis, and that would not be an issue if the crew had Chet Holmgren there. However because it at the moment stands, if this turns into the form of downward grade factor I feel it can, it’d make sense to seize the +5.5 bucks.

The reality is, the numbers superior all through the season do not inform the total story for Milwaukee. This has been a special crew within the final month. In reality, since November 18, the Bucks are 10-2 SU. In that span, Milwaukee ranks ninth within the NBA in factors per 100 possessions (118.0) and tenth in general effectivity differential (+5.0). However over all the yr, the Bucks rank simply eleventh in factors per 100 possessions (115.0) and fifteenth in effectivity differential (+0.2). This crew is beginning to appear to be the Jap Convention contender all of us anticipated this season. That was evident when Milwaukee and Boston went all the way down to the wire at TD Backyard on December sixth.

It isn’t loopy to suppose that the Bucks would rise to the event in a half-court recreation, and that is precisely how all NBA Cup video games have been performed. This season, Oklahoma Metropolis and Milwaukee have the very same factors per 100 video games (101.3) in halfcourt conditions. The distinction is that the Thunder have been a lot better defensively on this setting. However I are likely to suppose a playoff-like recreation would even issues out a bit. Milwaukee could not have a solution for Gilgeous-Alexander, however the crew will be ok with its probabilities with nearly everybody on protection. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been locked in as a free safety-like weapon recently, which is why he is had a complete of 15 blocks and steals over the past three video games. And Brook Lopez remains to be an excellent deterrent across the rim.

Offensively, Damian Lillard and Antetokounmpo will be capable of create photographs, even in opposition to the Thunder’s stellar protection. Realistically, they’re the 2 finest groups on this encounter by a large margin. And keep watch over lineups that embrace Lillard, Antetokounmpo, Lopez, and sharpshooter AJ Inexperienced. Milwaukee is outscoring opponents by 10.4 factors per 100 possessions with these 4 on the ground. Inexperienced’s improved protection has been a revelation this season, as he’s now not the man groups chase off the ground. As a 47.6% three-point shooter, he offers the Bucks’ stars all of the area on the planet to function.

I would be stunned if this recreation finally ends up being lopsided, so I do not like the concept of ​​taking part in in Oklahoma Metropolis to cowl the motion. Nevertheless, Underneath might be the most effective guess on the board on this recreation. The typical variety of factors scored within the six video games we have seen within the playoffs this yr is 208.9 factors per recreation. The Underneath can also be 5-0 in Las Vegas’ 5 video games in NBA Cup historical past. These two groups play types that have a tendency towards the rarer. The Bucks have already trailed in 14 of the 25 video games they’ve performed this yr, and the identical is true for the Thunder. Additionally, the Underneath is 3-0 in Milwaukee’s three video games in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’re additionally 3-1 within the 4 video games Oklahoma Metropolis has performed in opposition to Jap Convention opponents.

Bucks vs. Thunder participant props

Giannis Antetokounmpo 2.5 steals + blocks (+140)

I went into this play at +100 within the semifinals, so there is not any approach I may stroll away from it at +140. Antetokounmpo is averaging 5.0 “stacks” per recreation over the past three video games, and that features a complete of 11 steals and blocks mixed within the two video games he performed within the NBA Cup knockout stage. When the lights are vivid, Antetokounmpo reveals up defensively. I do know the Greek Freak has regressed a bit as a defender lately, however his block fee truly rose to 4.1% this yr. That is the very best mark he has posted since 2016-17. Whereas his steal fee has dropped, he can be aggressive in taking part in passing lanes in opposition to the Thunder.

Bucks vs. Thunder Peak

The Underneath have gone 5-0 within the 5 knockout video games performed in Vegas in NBA Cup historical past. With this remaining that includes two groups that favor to play primarily in their very own half, it’s troublesome to think about this altering. Nevertheless, if I have been taking part in something on this recreation, I’d in all probability select Underneath. Nevertheless, I’d additionally take into account gobbling up Milwaukee at +5.5. The one purpose I do not contact it’s as a result of I’ve the {dollars} to win the event at +600. I tweeted this match proper after information of Franz Wagner’s harm broke.

Lean: lower than 215 (-112)