The Portland Trail Blazers (11-22) travel to face off against the Milwaukee Bucks (17-15) on Saturday, January 4th. This game will be played at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and televised on KATU. Both the Trail Blazers and Bucks will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Tip off is scheduled for 8:00 ET.

Trail Blazers vs Bucks

The Trail Blazers Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Portland fell to 11-22 on the season after a 114-106 loss to the Lakers on Thursday. The Blazers were +7 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 220 points fell short of the 225-point O/U line.

Portland started strong, leading 31-27 after the 1st quarter. However, a rough 2nd quarter saw them outscored 33-20. They entered the 4th quarter down 88-75 but managed to outscore the Lakers 31-26 in the final period.

The Bucks Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Milwaukee fell to 17-15 on the season after a 113-110 home loss to the Nets on Thursday. The Bucks were heavy favorites, entering the game as 12.5-point favorites, but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game finished at 223, just under the 223.5-point line.

The Bucks struggled early, trailing 66-54 at halftime. The Nets went on a 10-0 run, narrowing the gap from 73-56 to 73-66. Milwaukee outscored Brooklyn 25-19 in the 4th quarter but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Trail Blazers Offense Breakdown

In their 114-106 loss to the Lakers, the Trail Blazers shot 50% from the field, with Anfernee Simons leading the way at 23 points, including 11 in the 4th quarter. He also hit 4 threes, shooting 44.4% from deep.

Portland made 9 threes at a 34.6% rate, with Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each adding 19 points. Sharpe scored 11 in the 1st quarter, while Avdija shot 57.1% from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Bucks Offense Breakdown

In their 113-110 loss to the Nets, the Bucks shot 44.4% from the field, with a three-point percentage of just 29.7%, hitting only 11 threes. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, shooting 50% from the floor.

Damian Lillard added 23 points, 11 of which came in the 4th quarter, despite shooting 30% overall and 30.8% from deep, making 4 threes. Bobby Portis contributed 15 points, hitting 3 threes at a 75% rate, with 8 of his points coming in the 2nd quarter.

Trail Blazers Team Defense

Defensively, the Trail Blazers gave up 114 points to the Lakers, who shot 45% from the field. Portland allowed 27 points in the 1st quarter and 33 in the 2nd, but they tightened up in the 4th, giving up just 26 points.

The Blazers struggled to contain the Lakers from beyond the arc, allowing 15 threes on 34% shooting. They sent the Lakers to the line 14 times, where they made 13 free throws. Portland finished with 6 steals and 4 blocks.

Bucks Team Defense

Defensively, the Trail Blazers gave up 114 points to the Lakers, including 33 in the 2nd quarter. Portland allowed Los Angeles to shoot 45% from the field.

Portland struggled to defend the three, as the Lakers hit 15 threes at a 34% clip. The Trail Blazers also sent the Lakers to the line 14 times, where they made 13 free throws.

Trail Blazers vs Bucks Trends

• In their last five games away from home, the Trail Blazers have a straight up record of 0-5 while going 1-4 vs. the spread. The team averaged 103 points per game in this stretch.
• Across the Bucks last ten home games, the team averaged 110 points per game while allowing 110. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 5-5, while going 5-5 straight-up.
• Going back to their previous five games as the underdog, Portland has an ATS mark of 1-4 while going 1-4 straight up.
• As the betting favorite, the Bucks have an ATS mark of just 2-3 in their last five games. Milwaukee posted a straight up mark of 2-3 in these matchups.

Trail Blazers vs Bucks Prediction

In this Trail Blazers vs. Bucks matchup, our point-spread bet is on the Trail Blazers at +12. While we project the Bucks to win 142-140, our recommendation is to bet on the Trail Blazers for the point-spread.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 227, and our model predicts the Trail Blazers and Bucks to score a combined 282 points. We recommend betting on the over.

---

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

---

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.