Bucks vs Nuggets Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Dame Gets His Dimes in Doc's Debut

Doc Rivers said he agreed to be an in-season head coach replacement for the Milwaukee Bucks for the chance to win the NBA Championship.

It's fitting, then, that his debut with his new club comes at the home of the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets are 18-4 at Ball Arena, with four straight wins in the Mile-High altitude. They’re 3.5-point favorites in the NBA odds.

Winners of four of their last five, can Milwaukee deliver Doc his first win? Read below for my free Bucks vs Nuggets preview and NBA picks for Monday, January 29.

Bucks vs Nuggets odds

Bucks vs Nuggets predictions

Of all of Doc’s stops — Orlando, Boston, Los Angeles (Clippers), and Philadelphia — the Milwaukee Bucks will mark the first time he’s had a dominant point guard in Damian Lillard (and we’re not talking hybrid converts, either, James Harden stans).

If you’ve listened to his critiques of the Bucks as both an analyst and podcast host, it’s no secret he felt Milwaukee hadn’t yet found a way to unlock the full repertoire of a player named to the All-75 team.

Lillard has been good in his first year since being traded from Portland. He’s scoring at his career average of 25.3 points per game, but his shooting splits are down. Dame is shooting at a 42.3% rate (the third-lowest of his career) while shooting a pedestrian 34.5% from 3-point range. Lillard’s 6.8 assists per game are the lowest since the 2018-19 season.

With the priority being finding a way to fix a brutal defense that’s allowing a surreal 120.1 points per game, I believe Rivers’ second goal is to ensure Lillard is empowered to dictate how the offense should be run with the ball in his hands.

That means targeting his assists total of 6.5 on Monday.

We know that Lillard can take over a game with his shooting at any moment, but his table-setting has been a little shaky. He’s coming off a nine-assist game in Saturday’s 141-117 demolition of the Pelicans, but that was after seven total assists in back-to-back games against the Cavaliers.

When his role was clearly defined as the lead guard last year with the Blazers, he held his own in every game against the Denver Nuggets. In a January 2023 matchup, Dame scored 44 points with eight assists. Before Christmas, he scored 34 points with eight assists. Over four games, he averaged 37.3 points and nine dimes. 

Look for Doc to set up the offense as Dame’s to run, with Giannis Antetokounmpo as the centerpiece.

My best bet: Damian Lillard Over 6.5 assists (+112 at Caesars)

Bucks vs Nuggets same-game parlay

Damian Lillard Over 6.5 assists

Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 31.5 points

Nikola Jokic Over 49.5 pts+reb+ast

+650 at Caesars

The fourth-leading scorer in the NBA, Anteotokounmpo is putting up 31 points per game on a crisp 60.8% shooting from the field. He’s coming off a 30-point, 12-rebound, 4-assist effort in a win over the Pelicans, and has gone for 30+ in five of his last seven outings. In two games against the Nuggets in last year’s title season, Giannis averaged 32 points, 11.5 rebounds, and four assists.

While Doc works to unlock Lillard, he knows getting Giannis multiple looks downhill and to the tin is an easy way to get buckets. It’s enough to push him to a big scoring night at Ball Arena.

At this point, I think the only thing that motivates Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets from now to the playoffs are big-game matchups like this, as all they want to do is get back to the playoffs and work on defending their crown. In what was supposed to be a showdown with Joel Embiid and the Sixers last game, Joker put up 26 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists.

In back-to-back games against both Philly and Boston on the road 10 days ago, Jokic went for 25 points, 19 boards, and three dimes vs. Philly, then 34 points, 12 boards, and nine dimes against the Celtics.

There’s no way the reigning Finals MVP doesn’t show up on this stage.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Bucks vs Nuggets spread and Over/Under analysis

The spread has stayed at 3.5 points or higher, currently topping out at 4.5 points. Both teams struggle to cover, as the Bucks are 18-27-1 against the spread, while the Nuggets are 19-27-1 ATS.

The total has not dipped under 240.5 points, though just a few books have moved it a half-point up.

Milwaukee is the No. 2 scoring team in the NBA, so it’s no surprise the Over has hit in 28 of their 46 starts. Denver’s Over record is just 17-29-1.

Bucks vs Nuggets betting trend to know

Milwaukee have alternated between wins in seven straight games, with the Nuggets winning the last matchup. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Nuggets.

Bucks vs Nuggets game info

Bucks vs Nuggets latest injuries

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic