Over half the NBA is in action on Friday night, and Prime Video presents a doubleheader of thrilling interconference matchups. The late game sees the 30-15 Denver Nuggets hit the road to face the 18-25 Milwaukee Bucks.
As Denver battles without superstar C Nikola Jokic, Milwaukee navigates the season with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over them and the future of PF Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite that, Friday could bring some fireworks on the hardwood.
Below, we’ll break down our Nuggets vs. Bucks prediction and picks for Friday night’s game. Make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, and totals!
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Nuggets vs. Bucks Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
After going 50-32 a year ago and taking the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to the limit in the playoffs, the Nuggets are on a better pace this season. They’re currently slotted into the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, fueled by improved depth and PG Jamal Murray playing out of his mind.
The Bucks, meanwhile, were the five-seed last season thanks to a 48-34 record. Following a rough offseason and few changes made to improve, Milwaukee is now seven games under .500. Head coach Doc Rivers’ crew is 1.5 games out of play-in territory.
Friday marks the 109th all-time regular-season clash between Denver and Milwaukee. The Nuggets hold a convincing 67-41 series lead, including a 108-104 triumph back on January 11.
Nuggets vs. Bucks Over/Under, Spread
The Nuggets enter Friday’s game as 6.5-point road underdogs, returning a 2.63x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Bucks are home favorites with a 1.42x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Milwaukee Bucks -6.5
- Over/Under: 218.5
- Game Winner Payout: Nuggets 2.63x | Bucks 1.42x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Nuggets vs. Bucks Injury Report
Let’s dive into the full Nuggets vs. Bucks injury report for Friday, January 23, via NBA.com.
Nuggets Injury Report
The Nuggets hadn’t submitted their official injury report at the time of writing. Friday’s Nuggets injury report is courtesy of FOX Sports 1070 AM Madison.
- C Nikola Jokic (knee): OUT
- F Cameron Johnson (knee): OUT
- SG-SF Christian Braun (ankle): Day-to-day
Bucks Injury Report
- SG Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique): OUT
- F Taurean Prince (neck): OUT
- C Myles Turner (ankle): Probable
Nuggets vs. Bucks Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to help you make your Nuggets vs. Bucks prediction on Friday, January 23.
- The Nuggets own the NBA’s third-best against-the-spread record as road underdogs at 6-1. The Bucks are just 4-6 ATS as home favorites.
- Denver’s +4.5 average scoring margin is seventh in the NBA.
- Defensively, the Nuggets allow the 11th-lowest opponent shooting efficiency (1.143).
- Milwaukee’s offense is down this season, sitting 27th in scoring (112.2 PPG) and 24th in scoring margin (-3.6 PPG).
- On the other end of the court, the Bucks rank 22nd with a 54.9 effective field goal percentage ceded.
Nuggets vs. Bucks Picks for PrizePicks Today: Friday, January 23
Here are three top Nuggets vs. Bucks picks to target for Friday, January 23 on PrizePicks. Player stat projections via PrizePicks are headlined by PG Jamal Murray, F-G Peyton Watson, and PF Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Nuggets PG Jamal Murray vs. Bucks Projection: 35.5 Pts + Asts
- Through 41 games, Murray averages 33.3 combined points and assists. Since Jokic went down, that number is 36.6.
- Pre-Jokic injury, Murray owned a 27.8% usage rate and 29.1% assist clip. Dating back to December 31, those numbers are 31.6% and 41.7% in 10 games.
- The 10th-year man is posting career-high averages for points (26.0), rebounds (4.3), assists (7.3), field goal percentage (49.0), and 3-point percentage (44.8).
- Per FantasyPros, the Bucks allow the fourth-most PPG to the PG position (27.14).
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Nuggets F-G Peyton Watson vs. Bucks Projection: 25.5 Pts + Rebs
- Watson pours in an average of 19.6 points and rebounds this year. In his last 15, however, that ledger is way up to 27.6.
- The fourth-year wing has scored double-digit points in each of those 15 contests.
- Per databallr, Watson brings down 12.6% of available defensive boards, an 83rd-percentile mark.
- The former UCLA standout spends 17.9% of his time on the ball and gets up 19.3 true shot attempts per 100 possessions.
Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Nuggets Projection: 46.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- The Greek Freak averages 43.7 combined points, rebounds, and assists in his 13th season.
- Antetokounmpo’s 67.7 true shooting percentage is a career-high figure, surpassing 2023’s 64.9% figure.
- Among players averaging less than 30 minutes a night, Giannis’ 14.4 rebound opportunities per outing rank 16th.
- Antetokounmpo produces 25.3 assist points per 100 and 9.3 assists per 100, via NBARAPM, both new personal bests.
Make Nuggets vs. Bucks Picks on PrizePicks
Nuggets vs. Bucks picks aren’t the only avenue hoops fans have to getting in on the daily NBA action.
You can make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 30 states.
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