The Milwaukee Bucks (13-19) and Charlotte Hornets (11-20) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Bucks are 3.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread (Bucks -3.5), with the over/under set at 227.5 total points. The Bucks are -160 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while the Hornets are +135 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Bucks vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Monday, December 29.
Bucks vs Hornets Prediction, Picks
- Bucks vs Hornets picks: Collin Sexton Over 12.5 Points (-115), Moussa Diabate Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds (-105)
My Bucks vs Hornets best bets are on Collin Sexton over 12.5 points and Moussa Diabate over 21.5 points + rebounds, with the best price tags currently available at bet365. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Bucks vs Hornets Odds
| Bucks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 227.5 -110o / -110u | -160 |
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 227.5 -110o / -110u | +135 |
Bucks vs Hornets NBA Preview
Both teams are hanging on to at least play-in hopes and are not far removed from road upsets heading into tonight.
The Bucks beat the Bulls on the road last time out, where they also welcomed back Giannis Antetokounmpo, who posted 29 points and eight rebounds on just 13 shots.
It was Antetokounmpo's first game in 24 days; Milwaukee went 2-6 in his absence due to a calf injury.
The Hornets stunned the Magic in Orlando by a score of 120-105 on Friday, winning their fourth game in six days. Now, Charlotte is 11-20 on the season.
The Hornets were 7-20 to start the year in each of the last three seasons and hadn’t been this close to .500 this late in any season since the 2021-22 campaign, when they finished 43-39.
At 11 wins, Charlotte is already more than halfway to last season’s total (19) and the year before (21).
For the Hornets, Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow), Mason Plumlee (groin) and Grant Williams (ACL recovery) are expected to sit. Sion James (illness) is questionable.
For the first time this season, Kon Knueppel (ankle) is slated to miss a game and is listed as day-to-day after leaving the Magic game early with a sprain.
For the Bucks, Taurean Prince (neck) is out, while Gary Trent Jr. (calf) is questionable.
Bucks vs Hornets Prediction, Betting Analysis
Collin Sexton Over 12.5 Points
I'm tailing my boy Joe Dellera here — as mentioned on the Buckets podcast today — with a play I also like: Collin Sexton over 12.5 points.
With Knueppel set to miss his first game, Sexton is naturally one of the places you’d look to help fill the scoring void, alongside increased responsibilities for LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges.
In Sexton’s case, he should provide that missing punch while running primarily with the bench unit.
He’s been limited to 16 and 18 minutes since returning from injury, scoring 12 and 13 points, respectively, while taking roughly one shot every two minutes.
He also attempted six free throws in his first game back. Expect an uptick in minutes, usage and scoring tonight.
Moussa Diabate Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds
I also like Moussa Diabaté again here. I played him over 21.5 points + rebounds last game, and he just cleared with 22.
In a similar spot, without Kalkbrenner and Plumlee, it’s hard not to like him again.
Diabaté has four starts this season and has gone over 21.5 PR in three of them, including a 15-point, 11-rebound effort against the Bucks earlier this year (granted, that came with overtime and 43 minutes, but he still had 15 and 10 in 38 minutes of regulation).
Giannis is likely to remain on a minutes restriction after returning and logging 25 minutes last game, and the Bucks allow the ninth-most rebounds per 100 possessions.
For what it’s worth, you can find Diabaté to record his third straight double-double at +145 on bet365 and +140 on BetMGM, if you’re not in a bet365 state.
Lastly, I also think we could see a decent amount of Sion James with Knueppel sidelined. He’s currently sitting at 7.5 points.
I’d lean over if you could find a 6.5, but I’ll wait for an updated injury report before logging anything — if at all.
Bucks vs Hornets Best Bets
- Collin Sexton Over 12.5 Points (-115)
- Moussa Diabate Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds (-105)
