The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled to win games of late, but that shouldn’t take anything away from the luster of this matchup between two titans of the Eastern Conference.

Catch this game live on Thursday, November 17, at 9 AM, Manila time

Away: Cleveland Cavaliers (8-5/4-4 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Darius Garland
  • SG: Donovan Mitchell (questionable) 
  • SF: Caris LeVert
  • PF: Evan Mobley
  • C: Kevin Love

After starting the season like a house on fire, the Cavs have become colder than the other side of the pillow. Cleveland has lost all its last four games. The Cavs failed to arrest their skid in a 129-124 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at home last Monday, and now they will be hitting the road again for a date against a title contender. However, help could be in the way of the Cavs, who are still leading the entire NBA in with a +7.1 adjusted net rating (points per 100 possessions adjusted for strength of schedule). 

Donovan Mitchell is reportedly trending toward a return to action this Thursday after missing the Minnesota game with a sprained ankle. Mitchell leads the Cavs with 31.6 points per game on a spectacular 51.3 FG% and 43.4 3FG%. Speaking of the Cavs’ outside shooting, they are second in the league with 39.9 3FG%.

The total has hit the Over in seven of the Cavs’ last 10 games after a loss.

Advertisement

Home: Milwaukee Bucks (10-3/6-1 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Jrue Holiday (questionable) 
  • SG: Grayson Allen (doubtful)
  • SF: Pat Connaughton (questionable)
  • PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo 
  • C: Brook Lopez

The Bucks are banged up, which largely explains why they have been losing lately. After a 9-0 start to the season, Milwaukee has gone 1-3 in its last four games.  Jrue Holiday is deemed questionable to play this Thursday, and he’s probably leaning on the wrong side of that label. In any case, the Bucks will have Giannis Antetokounmpo ready. 

The Greek Freak had 27 points and eight rebounds in the Bucks’ 121-106 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks last Tuesday. They shot just 41.5 FG% and went just 6/29 from behind the arc versus the Hawks, but scoring could be easier this time around versus the Cavs, whose defense has been so generous to opposing teams of late. Cleveland has allowed teams to score 120.3 points on 52.0 FG% and 44.5 3FG% during its current losing skid. Milwaukee has covered the spread in six of its last eight games as the home team.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Cavs (+4.0) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The Over (220.0) hits.