Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks Picks and Predictions December 29th

The Milwaukee Bucks head to the Spectrum Center to face the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, December 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM on FDSS. Milwaukee is 13-19 and still trying to claw its way out of a disappointing first half, but the Giannis return matters. He came back against Chicago and dropped 29 points in a 112-103 win, and you could feel the team settle into a more normal shape once he was on the floor.

Charlotte is 11-20 and coming off a 120-105 win over Orlando, one of their better all-around games lately. The Hornets are still volatile, but at home they can turn games into three-point contests quickly, and that’s always live in a spread under two possessions. The big note is rookie Kon Knueppel’s ankle situation, because it impacts both the rotation and the spacing. This matchup is basically about whether Milwaukee can control the paint and avoid getting dragged into a pure shooting war.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets Odds

These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers and movement on the latest NBA odds.

Team	Moneyline	Spread	Total
Milwaukee Bucks	-151	-3.5 (-108)	O 227.5
Charlotte Hornets	+127	+3.5 (-114)	U 227.5

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Form

Milwaukee’s profile is better than the record suggests, at least offensively. They’re shooting 48.5% from the field, top five in the league, and the efficiency is real with a 57.1% effective field goal percentage that ranks second. They also make 14.8 threes per game, sixth in the league, which is a big deal because it keeps the floor spaced for Giannis to attack. When that spacing is working, the Bucks don’t need perfect execution. They just need to avoid the lazy possessions.

Giannis returning changes everything. It’s not just the points. It’s the rim pressure, the free-throw pressure, and how it simplifies everyone else’s role. Ryan Rollins scoring 20 against Chicago is the kind of secondary support that becomes more realistic when defenses are loaded up on Giannis. The road record hasn’t been great, but Milwaukee has shown it can win away from home in the right matchup, and Charlotte’s defense is the kind of opponent you want when you’re trying to build rhythm.

For recent trends, splits, and results, check the Milwaukee Bucks stats and results. Availability matters here, so monitor the Milwaukee Bucks injury report before tipoff.

Player	Status	Reason
Giannis Antetokounmpo	Probable	Return management
Damian Lillard	Out	Achilles
Pat Connaughton	Questionable	Calf tightness
Gary Trent Jr.	Questionable	Wrist soreness

Charlotte Hornets Betting Form

Charlotte’s offense is built around pace and threes, and it’s actually been effective at what it wants to do. The Hornets are fifth in threes made per game, and the Orlando win was a clean example: 19 made threes on 39 attempts is exactly how they steal games and cover spreads. LaMelo Ball doesn’t have to be perfect if the shot volume is high and the spacing is right, because the Hornets can erase deficits quickly.

The issue is still defense. They allow 118.4 points per game, and when they’re not hitting threes, the game can slide away because they don’t have an easy way to create stops. Rebounding helps, and Charlotte has been solid there, but against Milwaukee that becomes a tougher assignment if Giannis is truly healthy and attacking downhill. The other key factor is Knueppel. If he’s out, it shortens the rotation and can push more minutes onto lineups that are already inconsistent on defense.

For form, splits, and recent results, use the Charlotte Hornets schedule and stats page. Availability matters here, so monitor the Charlotte Hornets injury report before tipoff.

Player	Status	Reason
Kon Knueppel	Questionable	Ankle sprain
Mark Williams	Out	Back
Nick Richards	Questionable	Knee soreness
Seth Curry	Out	Hip

Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets Matchup Breakdown

This game comes down to what style wins. Milwaukee wants to punish the paint and force Charlotte to defend without fouling. Charlotte wants a high-possession game where threes decide the night. Both teams can shoot, but the difference is that Milwaukee has a reliable “plan B” when the threes aren’t falling. Charlotte usually doesn’t. That’s why Milwaukee is favored.

The possession battle matters too. If Charlotte is turning the ball over, Milwaukee can get into transition, and that’s where Giannis is a problem you can’t really solve. If Charlotte is protecting the ball and getting good looks early, it can keep this within one or two possessions all night. The Hornets also have the backdoor cover angle baked into their profile, because a couple of threes late can flip a -6 game into a -2 finish quickly.

The total is interesting because both teams have the ingredients for a points game, but it depends on whether Milwaukee is getting stops. If the Bucks are locked in defensively, the game can still score because of efficiency, but it may not turn into a full sprint. If you want a deeper framework for handicapping these pace and three-point variance games, the NBA betting guide is useful, especially for thinking through when a total is driven by pace versus efficiency.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets Predictions and Best Bets

I lean Milwaukee -3.5. The number is short enough that you don’t need Milwaukee to dominate, you just need them to be the more stable team late. With Giannis back, I think they have the most reliable scoring profile on the floor, and Charlotte’s defense gives up too many clean looks to trust them holding a late lead.

The total leans over for me, mostly because Charlotte’s defense invites scoring and both teams can get hot from three. Charlotte also plays with a faster tempo, and if this becomes a possession game, 227.5 is reachable even if one side isn’t super efficient. The risk is if Milwaukee controls the game early, slows it down, and Charlotte has a cold shooting night. That can turn a total into a sweat quickly.

If Knueppel sits and Charlotte’s rotation tightens, I actually like Milwaukee’s cover chances more because the Hornets have fewer stable minutes and fewer spacing combinations. If he plays and looks fine, it improves Charlotte’s ability to keep scoring and makes the +3.5 more attractive. I’m still staying on Milwaukee because the matchup sets up for them to win the paint and win the foul count.

Best Bet: Milwaukee Bucks -3.5 (-108).

NBA Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

NBA betting is a numbers game over a long season. You’re trying to stay disciplined with price, stay ahead of late availability news, and find the games where the market is a point or two off. The today’s NBA picks page is useful for comparing multiple matchups and seeing where value is showing up across the slate.

It also helps to have a consistent hub for team context so you can check form and splits quickly. The league-wide NBA team pages makes it easier to keep your card grounded when the market moves late.

And if you’re looking beyond tonight, futures markets shift fast when a team’s health or rotation stability changes. Keeping tabs on NBA championship odds and predictions alongside your nightly betting can help you spot those moves early.