NBA
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Sunday 9th March 2025 Start time: 6 pm local time (Midnight BST) Venue: Fiserve Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Last meeting: December 20, 2024, Cleveland Cavaliers 124-101 Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks host the best seed in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Sunday night for some high-level basketball.
Donovan Mitchell//Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks host the best seed in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Sunday night for some high-level basketball. The Cavaliers are in red-hot form but are travelling to face the fourth seed inside their Conference. It can be assumed that both teams, more so the Bucks, have booked themselves a spot in the playoffs. The Bucks will see this fixture as an important game to see if they can improve on their current level.
For those interested in placing bets, we’ll also explore some of the top online betting sites where you can find the best odds before concluding with our prediction.
SportsBoom has created a detailed preview for this matchup. In this analysis, we’ll break down the rosters of both teams, examine their recent and historical head-to-head performances, and offer insightful betting tips before concluding with our prediction.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
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Cleveland Cavaliers: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.57%
Milwaukee Bucks: 4/9 (1.44) – 69.23%
Forecast odds – Betting available on 1Win closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
Throughout regular season history, this matchup has seen an incredible 236 games played overall. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks play four games per season due to both playing in the Eastern Conference. As of right now, the Milwaukee Bucks have the upper hand, winning 132 matches compared to only 104 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite this record favouring the Bucks, the Cavaliers have the better record from the last few years. The Cavaliers have won four games in a row and have won eight of the last ten matches, showcasing a shift in who the stronger team is.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/25 Season | December 20, 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers 124-101 Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2024/25 Season | November 4, 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114 Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2024/25 Season | November 2, 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers 114-113 Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2023/24 Season | January 26, 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers 112-100 Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2023/24 Season | January 24, 2024 | Milwaukee Bucks 126-116 Cleveland Cavaliers |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Record: 50-10
- Home Form: 28-4
- Road Form: 22-6
Quite incredibly, at time of writing, the Cleveland Cavaliers have won ten games in a row. The organization recently defeated the second and third seed in their Conference, the Boston Celtics, and the New York Knicks. This impressive run sees them 7.5 games and ten games ahead of both teams. The Cavaliers are unquestionably the best team in the East, but no doubt will not get complacent.
The Cavaliers boast a well-rounded roster, which is fundamental to their success this season. Three different players led the franchise in points, rebounds, and assists. This not only highlights their versatility, but that no player will burn themselves out by playing multiple roles throughout all their games. So far, Donovan Mitchell is the team's top scorer, averaging 24.3 points per game, along with 4.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists. While his performances have dropped when compared to his numbers from previous years, it can be attributed to the team's overall depth of talent.
25-year-old Darius Garland is also having a strong season and is close to matching his career-high numbers in points made per game. He ranks second on the team with 21.2 but his standout role in the team for the Cavaliers is the assists he racks up, with 6.7 per game. While his assist numbers are slightly down from previous seasons, his offensive capabilities make him an essential part of the team regardless.
Milwaukee Bucks
- Record: 34-25
- Home Form: 20-9
- Road Form: 13-16
The Milwaukee Bucks have a 34-25 record in the East which places them as the fourth seed. Somehow, the organization has a below .500 record on the road and yet is still in playoff contention. The franchise is impressive at home though, as they are one of three teams to have single digit defeats against the opposition.
We have run out of superlatives to describe Giannis Antetokounmpo’s influence in the team. The 30-year-old power forward is propping up incredible numbers yet again, averaging 30.9 points per game and 12.1 rebounds. His scoring makes him the second-best shooter in the league, but sixth overall in rebounding. Either way, his importance is a large reason for the success of the franchise this season.
In addition to Antetokounmpo’s brilliance, don’t forget the Bucks have Damian Lillard. The 34-year-old continues to average his career best numbers, averaging 25.4 points per game and 7.3 assists per game. Lillard is still showcasing that he is a top player still in the league, playing a total of 49 games and at a level that ranks as one of his best seasons for the most part.
Value Bets
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Over 30 Points and Over 10 Rebound: Across his last five meetings with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Giannis Antetokounmpo has produced remarkable numbers. He has averaged 31.6 points and 15 rebounds per game; therefore, we are predicting yet another double-double from the Greek-Nigerian star. His presence is vital within that roster and could be the difference between victory and defeat.
Donovan Mitchell, Over 25 Points and Over 5 Assists: SportsBoom’s second valued bet focuses on Donovan Mitchell, who has played a part in 20 games against the Milwaukee Bucks. Mitchell’s career averages see him prop up impressive numbers of 27.1 points and 5.1 assists per game, therefore, we expect him to maintain this form on Sunday afternoon. We’re backing him to throw for at least 25 points and provide five assists to those in his roster.
Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers to win
Although the Milwaukee Bucks display an impressive roster and two mega stars, SportsBoom selects the Cleveland Cavaliers to win. The Cavaliers have won ten games in a row, but also are unbeaten against the Bucks this season. All things point to the Cavaliers now as they are by all metrics the best team in the league. The Bucks will have a tough test, but can they pull off a win?
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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