Milwaukee Bucks (43-34) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (21-56)
April 6, 2025 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans +10.5; Over/Under: 221
(Get latest betting odds)
Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview
The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t been at their best as they’ve lost six of their last 11 games overall, but they will be gunning for a fourth straight victory after outlasting the Heat in a 121-115 overtime road win last night. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with a triple-double of 36 points with 15 rebounds and 10 assists, Kevin Porter Jr added 24 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists off the bench while Brook Lopez chipped in with 17 points. As a team, the Bucks shot 51 percent from the field and eight of 24 from the 3-point line as they fought hard to rally back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. They clamped down defensively and restricted the Heat to just four points in overtime to earn the gritty road win.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been doing it tough lately as they’ve lost five of their last seven games overall. They will be hoping to snap a two-game skid after getting trampled by the Lakers in a 124-108 road defeat on Friday. Jose Alverado led the team with 27 points and five assists on 10 of 21 shooting, Karlo Matkovic added 15 points on six of seven shooting while Yves Missi chipped in with 13 points and 11 rebounds. As a team, the Pelicans shot 48 percent from the field and 14 of 34 from the 3-point line, but they got cold early and were always fighting an uphill battle after getting outscored by 37-23 in the second quarter. Elfrid Payton had a mixed game as he tallied 12 assists but scored just two points with five turnovers, while Bruce Brown scored just one point on zero of five shooting.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win
- The Bucks have lost four of their last five games as road favorites against Southwest Division opponents.
- The home team has won seven of the last eight games between the Bucks and Pelicans.
- The Bucks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
- The home team has covered the spread in five of the last six games between the Bucks and Pelicans.
Why the Milwaukee Bucks will win
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last 11 games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a winning record.
- The favorites have won each of the Pelicans’ last seven games.
- The Bucks have covered the spread in each of their last seven games following a road win.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games as home underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for opponent three-point field goal attempts per game this season (40.0).
- The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for defensive rating this season (119.6).
- The Bucks rank 30th in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (8.2).
- The Bucks rank 1st in the league for three-point percentage this season (38.5%).
Pelicans vs Bucks Prediction
The Bucks are still shorthanded with Damian Lillard out again, while the Pelicans are still missing a host of players including Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy. These teams have yet to meet this season, as an earlier meeting back in January was postponed. The Bucks are starting to turn things around with three wins on the trot, and they are certainly more healthy than the Pelicans, who are missing almost all of their best players. It’s always tricky playing the second game of a back to back set, but the Bucks are in a groove right now and should be good enough to run past this slumping Pelicans squad, who have little to play for.
