Golden State (26-26) at Milwaukee (28-23)
- When: Feb 10 2025, 8:00 PM
- Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- TV: NBA TV
Game Preview
Golden State is favored by 6.5, with the total set at 232.5 as the Warriors visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Both teams are adjusting to new faces after the trade deadline, making this matchup a key test for their evolving rosters.
Golden State Warriors Outlook
The Warriors are coming off a dominant 132-111 win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, a game that marked Jimmy Butler’s debut for Golden State. The former Miami Heat star wasted no time making an impact, dropping 25 points and showcasing his signature defensive intensity.
“Pretty fun having Jimmy on our team. He’s an amazing player,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “I’m most impressed with his passing. It changes everything, connects the game.”
Butler’s arrival gives Golden State an additional scoring and playmaking threat alongside Stephen Curry, who leads the team with 23.0 points and 6.1 assists per game. Kevon Looney controls the boards with 6.9 rebounds per contest, but the Warriors rely on their deep rotation, ranking second in the NBA in bench scoring at 45.8 points per game.
Golden State also continues to be lethal from beyond the arc, with 41.5% of their points coming from three-pointers—the second-highest rate in the league. This could be a major factor against a Milwaukee squad missing its defensive anchor.
Milwaukee Bucks Outlook
The Bucks are on the second night of a back-to-back after securing a 135-127 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined due to a lingering calf injury, Damian Lillard stepped up in a big way, exploding for a season-high 43 points and eight assists.
“I told Dame that he needs to be an aggressive scorer and aggressive playmaker, and that’s a hard thing to do,” said Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. “I thought his downhill attacks to create other buckets were great, and then that led him to his shooting.”
Milwaukee also introduced a new face to the rotation, with Kyle Kuzma making his first two appearances in a Bucks uniform after being acquired from Washington in exchange for Khris Middleton. Kuzma has put up 12 and 13 points, respectively, in his first two games, but the team is still adjusting to its new look.
Even without Giannis, the Bucks remain one of the most efficient shooting teams in the league, ranking second in three-point percentage (38.7%) and fourth in effective field goal percentage (56.3%). However, they have struggled to close out games, going just 2-6 in their last eight contests.
Betting Prediction
This will be the first meeting between these teams this season, and recent history suggests home-court advantage has played a big role in this series. The teams have split the two-game season series in each of the last four years, with each squad winning at home.
However, with Antetokounmpo sidelined and Milwaukee still adjusting to a new rotation, Golden State has the upper hand. The Warriors’ three-point firepower, combined with Butler’s two-way presence, should be enough to keep them in control against a Bucks team on the second night of a back-to-back.
Expect Golden State to cover the spread and for the total to trend over, given Milwaukee’s high-scoring tendencies and Golden State’s perimeter efficiency.
Spread Pick: Golden State -6.5
Over/Under: Over 232.5
- NBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
