See the Bucks vs Cavaliers predictions, player props, and best odds for Nov. 4
Thanks to a last-second game-winner from Donovan Mitchell against Milwaukee on the weekend, the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-0, 3-0 home, 7-0 ATS) can still count themselves among the ranks of the unbeaten (alongside 6-0 OKC). On Monday night, the flailing Bucks (1-5, 1-3 away, 1-5 ATS) will look to return the favor as they visit the Cavs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse at 7:10 pm ET. With Khris Middleton out and Giannis Antetokounmpo day-to-day with an adductor strain, the Cavs are big 7.5-point favorites.
Sascha Paruk's 2024-25 NBA betting record: 9-8 (+2.29 units). All wagers 1 unit unless stated otherwise.
The Bucks' struggles are one of the biggest storylines early in the season. The preseason NBA win totals listed Milwaukee at 50.5 O/U, tied for the fifth-highest in the league. But they currently sit dead-last in the Eastern Conference at 1-5. Only the winless Utah Jazz are keeping them from the absolute basement of the NBA. Since a 124-109 win over the 76ers in their season-opener, they've dropped five straight, four by double-digits.
The absence of Khris Middleton (15.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.3 APG last season) has been palpable. But don't expect that to continue. Middleton missed 27 games last year and the Bucks went 18-9 without their starting small forward. Milwaukee, which is basically running it back from last year's 49-33 campaign in terms of personnel, already showed signs of righting the ship last time out against the Cavs. They led by as many as 16 in the first half before falling 114-113 on Mitchell's effective buzzer-beater.
The Cavaliers' red-hot start is going to taper off. Like the Bucks, this team is basically unchanged from last season, when they finished fourth in the East with a 48-34 record. Their O-Rating, which was only 16th-best in the NBA last year at 114.7, is currently second at 121.9, trailing only the reigning-champion Celtics.
If Giannis doesn't end up playing, my pick of the Bucks to cover may be dead before the game even begins. But if Giannis and Damian Lillard are both in the lineup, it's ridiculous to be spotting Milwaukee 7.5 points. There is a massive amount of recency bias built into this line.
At the same time, listing a less-than-100% Antetokounmpo with a rebound total of 12.5 is too much. He's only gone over 12.5 in one game twice this season (last time out) and has only averaged over 12.5 RPG once in his 11-plus-year career.
Player props and odds from ESPN Bet on Nov. 4. Claim an ESPN Bet promo code to bet on Bucks vs Cavaliers.
With Giannis still questionable at the time of publication, sportsbooks were hesitate to open too many Milwaukee player props. At the moment, Giannis is the only Milwaukee player listed in Monday's NBA player props.
Antetokounmpo has the highest point total (29.5) and rebound total (12.5) of the night. Mitchell has the highest point total among Cleveland players (26.5) while center Jarrett Allen leads the Cavs rebounding props (11.5).
As of Monday morning, there was still a one-point discrepancy in the Bucks vs Cavs spread at various sportsbooks. FanDuel had the best line for Milwaukee backers at Bucks +7.5 (-115) while BetMGM had the best odds for Cleveland bettors at Cavaliers -6.5 (-115).
On the moneyline, FanDuel was, counter-intuitively, offering the best odds on a Cleveland win at -270. DraftKings and bet365 had the best price on a Bucks straight-up win at +225.
There was also a one-point variation in the game total. ESPN Bet and BetMGM both had the total at 227.5 with the over slightly favored at -115. Bet365 had the total one point higher at 228.5 with -110 odds each way. All other books had the total at 228 flat in Monday's NBA odds.