Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction & Picks - NBA

Prediction published on 1/2/26, 4:12 PM  by Carlos Zabala in NBA Picks

The spark that Antetokounmpo ignited upon his return from injury, propelling the Bucks to immediate victories over the Bulls and, two days later, the Hornets, fizzled out on New Year's Eve. Despite the Greek Freak's 33 points and being a 10.5-point favorite in the betting odds, they lost at Fiserv Forum to the Wizards.

Doc Rivers criticized his team for not putting up enough of a fight in that defeat, which was Milwaukee's 20th of the season. Antetokounmpo, who played well but missed a jumper that could have won them the game, said his team needed to do a better job and trust each other.

Nevertheless, the Bucks will be favored to beat the Hornets at home on Friday, four days after defeating them 123-113 at the Spectrum Center in a game that saw Kevin Porter dish out 11 assists and score 15 points.

On New Year's Eve, the Hornets suffered a close defeat, losing 125-132 against the Warriors. However, for Charlotte, the performance of Knueppel, Ball, and Miller was impressive, with each player contributing 20 or more points. Miller scored 33 and earned praise from the opposing coach at the end of the game.