Denver Nuggets vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/23/2026

Game Time: 9:30 pm ET, Friday, January 23, 2026

Venue:  Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Nuggets +4.5, Bucks -4.5; Over/Under:  221.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Nuggets +4.5, Bucks -4.5; Over/Under:  221.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Nuggets +4.5, Bucks -4.5; Over/Under:  221.5 points

Denver Nuggets:  29-15 (2nd place, Northwest Division)

Milwaukee Bucks:  18-25 (4th place, Central Division)

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Denver Nuggets:  6-4 last 10

Milwaukee Bucks:  4-6 last 10

The Nuggets are entering this game with a 29-15 record overall this season and they are 17-7 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak with losses coming against the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Washington Wizards still to be played on Thursday night. In their game against the Lakers, Jamal Murray led the team in points in that game with 28 while Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon each were next on the team with 18 points. Jamal Murray led the team in assists in that game with 11 while Jalen Pickett led the team in rebounds with 6. They were 44.8% from the field, 40.5% from 3-point range, and 73.7% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 121.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 117 PPG against them. The Nuggets have an ATS record of 25-19 this season and their O/U record is 27-17.

The Bucks are entering this game with an 18-25 record overall this season and they are 9-11 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team in points in that game with 19 while Cole Anthony was next on the team with 17 points. Bobby Portis led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team in rebounds with 14. They were 49.4% from the field, 39% from 3-point range, and 66.7% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 112.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 115.8 PPG against them. The Bucks have an ATS record of 19-24 this season and their O/U record is 17-26.

The current betting odds have the Nuggets listed as a 4.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Nuggets have looked really good in their games this season with their 29-15 record overall which has them right near the top of the West with one of the best records in the entire NBA. They have been a great road team too with their 17-7 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Bucks haven't looked good in their games this season with their 18-25 record overall which has them in the bottom half of the East. They haven't looked good on their home court either with their 9-11 home record this season. The Bucks are off a big loss to the Thunder in their last one and they haven't looked that good lately either, going 4-6 in their last 10 games. They have been dealing with issues all season and now they have some important players missing from their lineup too. A lot of the work load has been on Giannis this season, but he hasn't been able to carry the team this year like he has in the past, and they don't really have the talent to compete at a high level in the NBA this season. They do have a rest advantage in this game, but it isn't going to matter much with how good the Nuggets have looked all season. The Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the West all year and even when they lost Jokic to injury, their play hasn't really dipped too much. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have managed to stay afloat without their best player in the lineup. They aren't in the best situation here though, losing 2 games in a row now and playing this game on a back-to-back, but they are against the Wizards on Thursday night and won't need to put too much energy into winning that game. The Nuggets are going to be able to roll into Milwaukee and get a win against the banged up Bucks with all of the issues the Bucks have had all season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Nuggets to cover the spread in this game. 

Nuggets Bucks Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Friday, January 23, 2026 (9:30 pm ET start time) is Nuggets 112 Bucks 104.

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Denver Nuggets: 4-1 ATS against Central division opponents. 15-9 ATS in road games. 27-17 OVER in all games. 16-8 OVER in road games. 9-4 OVER vs. poor rebounding teams - outrebounded by opponents by 3+ per game.

Milwaukee Bucks: 1-4 ATS against Northwest division opponents. 4-11 ATS in non-conference games. 4-9 ATS revenging a road loss vs opponent. 7-4 OVER at home versus good 3 point shooting teams - making 36% of their attempts or more.

Denver Nuggets:  A. Gordon (PF) Day To Day - Hamstring. J. Murray (PG) Day To Day - Hip. T. Hardaway Jr. (SG) Day To Day - Knee. C. Braun (SG) Out - Ankle. J. Valanciunas (C) Day To Day - Calf. N. Jokic (C) Out - Knee. C. Johnson (PF) Out - Knee. T. Bates (SG) Out - Foot.

Milwaukee Bucks:  M. Turner (C) Day To Day - Ankle. K. Porter Jr. (SG) Out - Oblique. T. Prince (SF) Out - Neck.

"As the game went on, I thought he sprinkled in what he does really well, which is pass the ball. Other guys started to score in a lot of different ways, like I said, in transition. He’s always going to be a problem, but 12 free throws is way too many. We fouled two three-point shooters on top of that." - David Adelman on Luka Doncic after his team’s loss against the LA Lakers in their game on Tuesday.

“When we have two guys like that out, with Giannis on the minute restriction, you can’t get in a hole. What happens if you get down early? Now you have to take Giannis off the floor. And it’s just going to increase the lead, and that’s exactly what happened.” - Doc Rivers after his team’s loss against the OKC Thunder in their game on Wednesday.

PG Jamal Murray

SG Bruce Brown

SF Spencer Jones

PF Peyton Watson

C Aaron Gordon

PG Ryan Rollins

SG AJ Green

SF Kyle Kuzma

PF Giannis Antetokounmpo

C Myles Turner

PPG: Nikola Jokic (29.6)

APG: Nikola Jokic (11)

Reb/G: Nikola Jokic (12.2)

PPG: Giannis Antetokounmpo (28.2)

APG: Kevin Porter Jr. (7.4)

Reb/G: Giannis Antetokounmpo (9.9)

Coaches:

Denver Nuggets: David Adelman (2nd season)

Milwaukee Bucks: Doc Rivers (3rd season)