Milwaukee Bucks vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction, Odds & Player Props (Mar. 8)

• The Milwaukee Bucks battle the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night
• The NBA odds slightly favor Giannis Antetokounmpo and company
• Read below for Bucks vs Lakers prediction, odds and player props

The Milwaukee Bucks (41-22) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (34-30) on Friday night for a star-studded showdown at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET with the game televised nationally on ESPN.

According to ESPN Bet, the Bucks opened as 2.5-point road favorites with an over/under of 232.5 points. Player props, including points, rebounds, and assists totals for star players such as LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, are also available.

Let’s delve into our Bucks vs Lakers prediction, as we analyze the odds and provide player props to bet.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds

In the Bucks vs Lakers odds, Milwaukee is a -135 favorite on the moneyline, giving them 57% implied win probability.

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Odds as of March 8th, 2024 at ESPN Bet. Apply SBD’s latest ESPN Bet promotion to wager on Bucks vs. Lakers tonight. North Carolina sports bettors can visit the ESPN Bet app in NC for a unique sign-up offer ahead of the launch. 

Milwaukee Betting Analysis

Milwaukee saw its six-game winning streak come to an abrupt halt on Wednesday in a 125-90 blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors. The Bucks allowed the Warriors to shoot a blistering 48.7% from three-point range while only connecting on 28.2% of their own threes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game absence to lead the Bucks with 23 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Prior to that setback, the Bucks had been rolling, holding four of their previous six opponents under 100 points.

Giannis couldn't miss from deep at shootaround… pic.twitter.com/aMpvze1w7P

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 6, 2024

Damian Lillard has been on fire from deep, knocking down 23 of 52 threes (44.2%) over his last six games. Giannis continues to put up MVP numbers, averaging 30.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists on 61.8% shooting this season. He’s +1475 in the NBA MVP Odds.

The Bucks are a solid 41-22 overall but just 16-15 on the road. They rank 5th in offensive rating (119.3) and 15th in defensive rating (115.5). Milwaukee is 27-36 against the spread and the under has hit in 23 of their last 32 games.

In terms of the Bucks injury report, Khris Middleton remains out with an ankle injury. He has missed the last 12 games. Giannis is probable with left Achilles tendinitis that sidelined him on Monday.

Los Angeles Betting Analysis

The Lakers had their momentum halted in a 130-120 home loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday despite leading by 19 points in the first quarter. LA has now dropped two of their last three after winning seven of their previous eight games.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 31 points and 13 assists before exiting late with a sore left ankle. His status for Friday is questionable. Anthony Davis was limited to just 14 points in 24 minutes as he battled foul trouble all night.

THE FIRST PLAYER TO EVER SCORE 40K POINTS IN NBA HISTORY

LEBRON JAMES 👑 pic.twitter.com/wfOJJcoXEY

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) March 3, 2024

Los Angeles is clinging to the 10th seed in the West at 34-30 overall and 22-11 at home. They are 18th in offensive rating (115.3) and 17th in defensive rating (115.8). The Lakers are 28-36 against the spread and have covered in 35 of their last 49 home games.

Per the Lakers injury report, James will likely be a game-time decision with the aforementioned ankle injury.

Bucks vs Lakers Player Props

There are no shortage of NBA player props available for the Bucks vs Lakers game, including points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made. Giannis Antetokounmpo is projected to have the biggest game, with Caesars setting his over/under point total at 31.5.

Odds as of March 8th, 2024 at Caesars Sportsbook. Bettors in the Tar Heel State can claim the Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina promo. 

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In addition to our side and total picks further below, there are several intriguing player props to consider for this star-studded matchup. Here are a few that stand out:

Giannis Antetokounmpo over 31.5 points: Giannis has been on an absolute tear lately, averaging 35.2 points on 63% shooting over his last five games. He put up 23 points in just 26 minutes vs the Warriors, so he should be fresh for this one. The Lakers don’t have a great matchup for Giannis defensively. Expect him to be aggressive attacking the rim all night.

Anthony Davis over 11.5 rebounds: AD has grabbed 12 or more boards in three straight and five of his last six games. He’s averaging 12.7 rebounds in three meetings with the Bucks over the past two seasons. With LeBron banged up, the Lakers will need Davis to control the glass and create extra possessions. This is a favorable rebounding matchup for him.

Bucks vs Lakers Prediction

While the Bucks are slight road favorites, this feels like a toss-up game that could go either way, especially if LeBron suits up. The Lakers have been excellent at home and are playing better overall despite the loss to the Kings. Meanwhile, the Bucks laid an egg in Golden State and have been mediocre on the road all season.

Ultimately, I’m backing the Lakers to cover the short spread. I think they will play with more desperation as the 10 seed trying to make the playoffs. The Bucks have struggled in LA in recent years and their offense looked out of sync vs the Warriors. If LeBron plays, I like the Lakers’ chances of winning outright as home underdogs in a high-scoring affair.

The over also looks appealing based on the star power and offensive potential in this matchup. Both teams are more than capable of putting up 120+ points if they get rolling. I’ll take the over 232.5 unless LeBron is ruled out.

MIL-LA Best Bets:

• Lakers +2.5 (-110)
• Over 232.5 points (-105)

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