Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, January 17 looks like a mismatch on paper. Our ratings give the Lakers about a 86% chance, and the Bucks would need an unusual night to change that.
Why the gap is wide
The Win Meter reads the Lakers 86%, with a projected score of Milwaukee Bucks 107, Los Angeles Lakers 119. The rating gap is 220 points in favor of the Lakers, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Lakers on top of that.
A reading this high has real meaning, but upsets of this size happen. Nearly one game in 7 like it goes the other way.
Recent form
The Bucks are 0-2 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -9.6. The Lakers are 2-0 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -3.2.
The Bucks' best recent win was 125-108 at home against BKN.
The Bucks were beaten 137-111 on the road by DET not long ago.
The Lakers' best recent win was 127-105 at home against GSW.
The Lakers were beaten 131-108 at home by OKC not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Day to day or questionable: Cameron Carr (LAL), Adou Thiero (LAL), and Jake LaRavia (LAL). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Bucks lead 3-1, with the Bucks outscoring the Lakers by an average of 7.2 points per game. The last meeting was MIL 105, LAL 101.