Cleveland Cavaliers-Milwaukee Bucks: Odds, injuries, lineups, prediction and TV info for Dec. 21

Just like that, the Cleveland Cavaliers are back to putting wins together, as they’ve won their last four contests.

Cleveland’s games on Friday versus the Indiana Pacers and Saturday against the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks weren’t pretty, but they got the job done in those and are on the upswing. The Cavs then handled the Utah Jazz in the first matchup in which Donovan Mitchell faced his former team on Monday, and now, Cleveland is 21-11 on the year.

Next up for Cleveland, though, is a different foe, in the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee has the league’s best record at 22-8, and they’ve taken it to the Cavaliers in the second half in the first two meetings between these clubs.

So can the Cavaliers turn the tide with this next matchup in Cleveland? We’ll weigh in eventually here, and examine the odds, injuries and lineup outlook for Wednesday’s game.

Cavaliers-Bucks: Odds, spread and over/under

According to WynnBet, the Cavs are favored over the Bucks here by 2.5 points. The moneyline for Cleveland is -135 and for Milwaukee is +115. The over/under is currently set for 217.

Cavaliers-Bucks: Injury report

Cavs injuries: Ricky Rubio (out, knee); Dean Wade (out, shoulder); Dylan Windler (out, ankle); Isaiah Mobley (out, G-League Two-Way); Lamar Stevens (doubtful, knee).

Bucks injuries: AJ Green and Sandro Mamukelashvili (out, G-League Two-Way); Khris Middleton (doubtful, knee).

Cavaliers-Bucks: Projected starters

Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro/Lamar Stevens, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Bucks starters: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, MarJon Beauchamp/Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Robin Lopez

Cavaliers-Bucks: Prediction

As we mentioned, the Cavaliers are seeking their first win against Giannis and the Bucks this season, after being dismantled in the second half of the first two meetings, both of which were in Milwaukee.

This go-round, Cleveland will be at home, where the Cavaliers have been at their best far more often. The Wine and Gold have the best home record in the NBA at 15-2, and that could make a difference for the group here.

Granted, Middleton being doubtful in this contest is a key factor, and one shouldn’t discount that, obviously. Either way, however, with this being the third time the Cavs face the Bucks this year, they seem due to land a W.

Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday are going to get theirs, and Stevens and Wade both being out doesn’t help, but, if Cleveland can be more on-point on shooters this time around, that could be the difference.

Here, that doesn’t seem unreasonable, with how the Cavs are defending, and Caris LeVert, Cedi Osman and the bench could keep up their momentum. Osman went nuclear in the fourth quarter in Cleveland’s demolition of the Jazz on Monday, and has been reignited of late it seems.

Look for Cavs to take this one here, and they cover. It’s close throughout, though.

Prediction: Cavs 108, Bucks 104

The Bet: Cavs (-2.5), UNDER

Cavaliers-Bucks: Where to watch/streaming option

This Cavs-Bucks matchup will be on Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Wisconsin and Bally Sports North, for fans in-market and with those options. For fans without those options in-market, or out of market, NBA League Pass should do the trick.

For a streaming option, click here for a free trial of FuboTV!

Cavs upcoming schedule:

After this Bucks game, the Cavaliers will face the Toronto Raptors on Friday and Brooklyn Nets on Monday, which will conclude their current homestand.

Following that, the Cavs will play the Indiana Pacers next Thursday on the road.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.