Sacramento Kings vs. Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/22/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

DraftKings: NL

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: NL

Kings: 18-29 (11th place, Western Conference)

Bucks: 28-19 (4th place, Eastern Conference)

The Milwaukee Bucks are the kings of comedy. We thought the sky was falling for the defending NBA champions after losing consecutive games to the Charlotte Hornets? Losing at home to the Toronto Raptors, and somehow someway losing to the Atlanta Hawks who had not won a home game since the Bush administration, it felt like.

So of course the Bucks come back the following game at home against the red hot Memphis Grizzlies and MVP candidate Ja Morant, and win by double digits at home.

Which is why suddenly I have more faith now taking the Bucks against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday in Milwaukee, which if you asked me two days ago I probably would not feel as comfortable.

I will say that the only way this game gives me pause is because the Bucs are playing on the second night of a back to back. They will be hosting the Chicago Bulls on Friday and at the time of publishing that result has yet to be finalized.

But while Morant has become one of the best young stars in the NBA, so much so that First Take was lining him up as to be the next best thing, There is still the matter of Giannis Antetokounmpo being a dominant force.

Giannis Led the way with 33 points and 15 rebounds, and Khris Middleton had 27 points to offset Morant’s 33-point, 14-assist evening.

"I've liked him since he came into the league," Antetokounmpo said of Morant . "Unbelievable player, plays the right way. He's getting better each year. He's getting his teammates involved. He's building a great culture with Coach Taylor in Memphis. They're a young team, a great team. The future is bright for his team and for himself, also. But, he's been playing great. He's one of the best point guards in the league, in my opinion."

The books have not been kind to the Bucks over the last 10 games. Milwaukee is just 4-6 against the spread, but covered in their win against Memphis as 6.5-point favorites. Their last cover before that was the dominant 19-point showing against the Golden State Warriors as 1-point underdogs.

But Sacramento no has not been any better, Sacramento to be better in any capacity whatsoever. The Kings are also 4-6 against the spread in their last 10 but were favored in their last three. Those games were two against the Houston Rockets at home, and a two point loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

If you think at any point Sacramento has changed, don't fool yourself they are still the same Kings that we have all come to know and love over the last decade.

And plus, do the Kings really have someone to stop Antetokounmpo? I’m not going to hold my breath.

"I think just his ability to do it different ways," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said about Antetokounmpo. "I think also including he's getting to the line, he's making free throws. His ability to kind of get to his spots in the post with a variety of moves ... and then I think of him as a playmaker, as a passer. That's what makes him special. We're fortunate to have him."

Give me the Bucks, no matter the spread, and go about your day. Bucks by 15

The Kings are 0-5 ATS in their last five road games against teams with a winning record at home.

The over is 10-1 in the Kings' last 11 against a winning team.

The Bucks are 1-5 ATS in their last six on no days rest.

PG: De'Aaron Fox

SG: Buddy Hield
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Marvin Bagley III
C: Richaun Holmes

PG: Jrue Holiday

SG: Grayson Allen
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Bobby Portis

Key injuries

Kings: Tyrese Haliburton (COVID, questionable)  

Bucks: None