Bucks at Hornets Under 200 1/2
Back on Nov. 29 the Bucks and Hornets hooked up in Charlotte. There were a combined 169 points scored with the Hornets winning, 87-82. That game went under the total by 32 1/2 points. While I don’t expect the total to fall anywhere close to that figure – it was the Bucks’ second-lowest score of the season – I do anticipate a final that stays comfortably under this total.
Consider the circumstances.
Both teams were in action last night. The Bucks beat the Hawks in overtime at home. Giannis Anteokounmpo may have had his finest game with 28 points and 16 rebounds. He also played 50 minutes. Khris Middleton logged a season-high 45 minutes. Point guard Michael Carter-Williams went 41 minutes and is likely going to have to play big minutes again today. That’s because the Bucks are thin in the backcourt with Jerryd Bayless and Greivis Vasquez out. Swingman O.J. Mayo isn’t likely to play either after he aggravated a hamstring injury last night.
This leaves only fourth-string Tyler Ennis to back up Carter-Williams, who always has been more about defense than offense. The Bucks aren’t that strong offensively to begin with ranking 24th in scoring and 28th in offensive rebounding. Milwaukee is shooting 26 percent from 3-point range in its last five games. This marks the Bucks’ fourth game in five nights. Fatigue is going to weigh heavily with the Bucks.
Charlotte carries a high fatigue rating, too, playing its third game in four nights and off a tough 109-107 road loss against New Orleans on Friday. The Hornets’ two top players, Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum, each logged more than 40 minutes versus the Pelicans. Charlotte’s inside scoring is down with Al Jefferson out and its backcourt firepower takes a hit if Jeremy Lamb has to miss a second straight game with a toe injury. He’s Charlotte’s fifth-leading scorer.
The Hornets are a below-average offensive team ranking 16th in scoring and 24th in field goal percentage. They are shooting 42 percent from the floor during their past five games. That figure would rank second-to-last in the league if computed for the entire season.
The under has cashed in 71 percent of Charlotte’s past 14 home games. The under is 3-0 this season when the Hornets have played without rest with a total in triple digits.