Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder are gearing up to take on the Milwaukee Bucks, with the Thunder being favored significantly as the visiting team in their matchup on Wednesday night. A key figure for Oklahoma City is Chet Holmgren, whose recent performances have underscored his necessity for the team, especially in light of the injury to Isaiah Hartenstein, who has been sidelined since late December due to a calf strain.
Holmgren’s Rising Performance
In the absence of Hartenstein, Holmgren has stepped up his game notably, particularly in rebounding. Initially, he averaged 7.9 rebounds over 14.3 chances per game, but in the 11 games since Hartenstein’s injury, those numbers have jumped to 10 rebounds on 17.6 chances. After a disappointing outing against the Charlotte Hornets where he recorded only six rebounds, Holmgren acknowledged his need to improve, stating:
“I just got to look in the mirror and be better in that area.”
Holmgren has responded positively, achieving double-digit rebounds in four of his last six games. As the team prepares for the Bucks, he faces a promising opportunity, considering Milwaukee’s struggles on the boards—ranking second-lowest in rebounding rate in the NBA with a mere 47.6%, while allowing opponents to average 54.7 rebounds per game.
Challenges for the Bucks
Compounding their difficulties, the Bucks may be missing key players Myles Turner and Kevin Porter Jr., both of whom contribute significantly to their rebounding totals. Forecasts for Holmgren’s rebounding in this game suggest numbers between 8.5 and 10, with most predictive models leaning towards him surpassing 10 boards. My analysis indicates he could pull down about 10.5 rebounds, making the betting line for his Over/Under on rebounds at 9.5 extremely appealing.
Game Strategy and Predictions
Given the Bucks’ struggles offensively, especially against stout defenses like Oklahoma City’s, the Thunder are expected to dominate in several areas. Ryan Rollins, another player to watch, has shown a tendency to score notably more at home, with impressive 50% shooting averages.
Same-Game Parlay Suggestions
For those looking to place a same-game parlay on this matchup, I propose:
- Thunder -9.5
- Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds
- Ryan Rollins Over 13.5 points
Game Details
The matchup is set to take place at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with the tip-off scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Thunder are currently positioned as favorites, a trend worth noting given the Bucks’ recent performance against Western Conference teams, where they have struggled with a record of 4-10 both straight up and against the spread, including a mere 1-5 at home in such non-conference matchups.
