The Milwaukee Bucks are back in action on Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks and Bucks have already seen each other this season, facing off in two preseason games in Abu Dhabi earlier in the month.
The teams are meeting for the first time in the regular season on Saturday, and both are coming in with a hot start to their season. The Bucks are the only undefeated team left in the NBA, while the Hawks are the Eastern Conference’s second-best team, carrying a 4-1 record into the matchup. Here is everything you need to know for Saturday night in what should be an exciting matchup.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks: Odds, Spread, Over/Under
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Bucks are favored by 5 points at Fiserv Forum. The money lines are -198 for Milwaukee and +166 for Atlanta. The over/under for the game is set at 229, which is not surprising considering the two teams that will be playing. The books favor Milwaukee, but with it being the second night of a back-to-back for the Bucks, it might be best to wait and see if anybody will be resting for the Bucks.
Milwaukee Bucks injury report vs. Atlanta Hawks
The injury report remains the same for the Bucks, with Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton, and Joe Ingles being the only three listed for now. That may change depending on how Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer handles the back-to-back.
Predictions for Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks
With uncertainty surrounding who will play tonight, it will be tough to accurately predict who will be in the lineup on Saturday for the Bucks. Considering the season is still young, and Saturday is the first back-to-back of the season, I will assume that the Bucks will run out their normal lineup.
One of the biggest topics of discussion early in the season for the Bucks has been their improved defense and Brook Lopez’s impact on it. The team has adjusted their defensive scheme to what has been near perfection this season, giving up the fewest points in the league, per NBA.com/stats. The team is trying to remove the perimeter shot from opponents while still leaving Lopez in the paint in drop coverage.
However, despite their early strategy’s success so far, the preseason games against Atlanta in Abu Dhabi may have exposed a flaw that they may try again. The Hawks frequently took advantage of Milwaukee on pick-and-roll actions for easy alley-oop scores for the roller, with the Bucks extending their big men further.
We find out if the same can be done against the Bucks in the regular season tonight, with Lopez playing significantly more and the rest of the starters full-time. Seeing how Atlanta has performed against Milwaukee in the past preseason, regular season, or playoff games, I expect Saturday to be a high-scoring and tough one for Milwaukee.
Final score prediction: Bucks 119, Hawks 112
How to watch Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks
The game will be on Bally Sports Wisconsin at 7 PM CT.
How to stream Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks
You can get a free trial on Bally Sports + if you’re interested in streaming the game or NBA League Pass if you’re out of the market.
*Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Stay tuned to see if the Bucks can continue their undefeated season.