Bucks vs. Cavaliers 2022 NBA Odds and Preview – December 21st

By Jeff Stinger • December 21, 2022

The top Central Division and Eastern Conference team, the Milwaukee Bucks, goes head-to-head with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Both sides are riding win streaks coming into the game. Cleveland looks sturdy with four-straight wins, while the Bucks try to build on back-to-back wins. This is the third of four regular-season meetings between the Bucks and the Cavs, with the former taking both wins in November. Cavaliers head coach J. B. Bickerstaff will try to cut the deficit to a game before their last meeting in January.

Nitrobetting shares the latest news, NBA odds, and special features throughout the 2022-23 NBA season. Let’s get a closer look at the upcoming Bucks vs. Cavaliers face-off in this preview.

Bucks vs. Cavaliers Game Information

pic.twitter.com/HQAeC8YrbE
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 20, 2022

When: Wednesday, Decemeber 21, 2022, 7:00 PM ET
Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
TV: BSOH, BSWI
Radio: WTMJ 620 AM (Bucks) // WTAM 1100 AM (Cavaliers)
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
NBA Betting Odds: Bucks (+2.5) // Cavaliers (-2.5)

Why Bet on the Milwaukee Bucks?

The Bucks won 11 of their last 15 games and are coming from a win against playoff contenders New Orleans Pelicans. Milwaukee ties the Celtics in the Eastern Conference with 22 wins, but the 2021 champions have one defeat less than Boston as of this writing.

Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the Bucks’ point man. He averages an incredible 31.04 points per game and 11.08 rebounds, both of which are team-best records. Joining him in the double-digit territory are Jrue Holiday (19.17 PPG), Brook Lopez (14.59 PPG), Bobby Portis (14.10 PPG), Khris Middleton (11.14 PPG), and Grayson Allen (10.70 PPG). Their offensive efforts are good for averages of 113.1 points per game on 46.2% shooting.

Defense is where the Bucks thrive, limiting opponents to 108.8 points per game on 44.8% shooting–both stats are good for a top-four record in the league. They hold teams to 50.6% from the paint and mid-range, while keeping things solid beyond the arc with a 34.8% opponent three-point percentage. Of course, the squad is also a tremendous rebounding side with a second-best total rebounding record of 57.6 boards per game.

Why Bet on the Cleveland Cavaliers?

The Cavaliers are the surprise team of the first half of the season. We’ve seen the squad thrive and look like worthy playoff contenders since the addition of Donovan Mitchell to the team and several lineup updates. They hold the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, winning 21 games and seven of their last ten games. This is the third of a six-game run at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and the team looks good with three-consecutive victories in the bag.

Cleveland is an impressive two-way team. The squad averages 110.9 points per game on 47.9% shooting. Former Utah Jazz star guard averages nearly 30 points per game for his side, while Darius Garland (20.69 PPG), Evan Mobley (15.00 PPG), and Jarrett Allen (13.92 PPG) join him in the double-digit list. The latter leads the team in rebounding with 1028 per game, while Garland headlines the assists stat with 8.04 per game.

Defense is just as important in the Cavs’ system. They lead the league in opponent points per game at 104.4 and keep teams to a 45.3% shooting percentage. The Cavs display solid interior defense and limit competitors to 52.1% two-point shooting. Meanwhile, they also protect the three-point arc well and hold teams to 34.4% from deep.

Bucks vs. Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Bucks are 6-4 in the last ten road games (3-7 ATS).
The Bucks are 2-3 in the last five games against the Cavs (2-3 ATS).
The totals went under in seven of the Bucks’ last ten road games.
The Cavs are 9-1 in the last ten games at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse (6-4 ATS).
The Cavs are 6-4 in the last ten home games against the Bucks (5-5 ATS).
The totals went over in three of the Cavs’ last ten home games against the Bucks.

Bucks vs. Cavaliers Expert Betting Prediction

Both sides are healthy coming into the game except for two players: Khris Middleton of the Bucks and the Cavs’ starting forward Lamar Stevens. However, the two players are listed day-to-day, which means there’s a chance to see both players suit up on Wednesday night. Looking at the numbers, the Bucks are the better team on paper given their recent record against the Cavs. They are eager to stay hot after sneaking past the Pelicans but come in as slight underdogs this time.

Don’t sleep on this Cavs team right now. Their competitive nature and pace mean they can outpace this Bucks lineup. A win is part of the equation given that they will play in front of their home crowd as favorites to win.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2022-23 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online BTC sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.

Game Information