NBA
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks Odds, Tips and Prediction
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Milwaukee Bucks in one of the most anticipated Eastern Conference matchups of the 2024/25 season.
Donovan Mitchell and Malik Beasley//Getty Images
One of the most anticipated Eastern Conference matchups of the 2024/25 NBA season will commence on Friday, December 20th, at 7:30 p.m. The Cavaliers are currently the number one seed in the East, and the Bucks aim to continue their strong form after a difficult start to the season.
SportsBoom investigates this blockbuster affair in detail as it features on prime-time television on Friday night.
Don’t forget to examine the multiple NBA betting strategies and betting platforms to place your bets and potentially win big.
Match Details: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks
Date: Friday 20th December
Start time: 7:30 pm local time (00:30 am BST)
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland
Last meeting: November 5, 2024, Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114 Milwaukee Bucks
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Bucks Strong Favourites
Cleveland Cavaliers: 3/2 (2.50) – 40%
Milwaukee Bucks: 3/5 (1.60) – 62,5%
*Forecast Odds* Betting available on 1Win closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
The Cavaliers and Bucks have met 235 times in the regular season, with the Bucks having a marginal all-time lead of 132 wins recorded. This matchup has seen many exciting battles over the years, and the Cavaliers have won six of the last ten meetings.
However, despite what is on paper, the last ten meetings slightly favour Cleveland; the home side has won four of their previous five meetings.
Throughout the 2024/25 season, both games contested in Cleveland and Milwaukee have been separated by only one-possession games. The Cavaliers won both games marginally, with outcomes totalling 116-114 and 114-113 in their favour.
Last Five Matches:
| Season | Date | Result |
| 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 |
| 2023/24 Season | January 17, 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers 135-95 Milwaukee Bucks |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Cavaliers
- Record: 21-4
- Home Form: 13-1
- Road Form: 8-3
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had an electric start to the 2024/25 season and are sitting top of the Eastern Conference as of early December. Their sensational home record is currently 13- 1, and their only defeat on home turf came against the Atlanta Hawks before losing against them on the road the following evening.
A key aspect of the Cavaliers’ success this season is their offensive structure. Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley are three key weapons in Cleveland’s success. While no standout shooter is on the roster this season, all three have contributed and are posting above 18 points per game.
Bucks
- Record: 12-11
- Home Form: 8-4
- Road Form: 4-7
It has taken the Milwaukee Bucks 23 games to go back above 0.500 after they won the season's first game. The 2021 NBA champions had a challenging first ten games of the season, posting a 2-8 record. Milwaukee responded to win 10 of their next 13 games heading into the festive period.
Unsurprisingly, Giannis Antetokounmpo is at the forefront of the Bucks’ offence. He is currently averaging 32.5 points per game, the highest in the whole league and is fifth overall on rebounds and field goal conversions. This standard is arguably prime Giannis figures-wise, as the Bucks now sit sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Value Bets
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Over 30 Points and Over 10 Rebounds: As previously stated, the Greek-Nigerian star is posting the best points-per-game stats in the league. Earlier this season, in November, Antetokounmpo produced a mesmerising performance, as he accumulated 34 points and posted 16 rebounds. SportsBoom expects a repeat of this performance due to the Bucks playing the best team in the East in this crucial game.
Evan Mobley: Over 10 Rebounds: Mobley, the 2021 first-round pick, is averaging 18.3 points per game and 9.1 rebounds. The San Diego-born star is in his fourth season in Cleveland and is arguably posting the best numbers of his career. His last ten games have seen him acquire ten or more rebounds, which will help the Cavaliers in this game due to their opponent’s attacking threats.
Prediction: Bucks to Win
Despite the difficult start, the Bucks have kick-started their season and are now one of the most in-form teams in the entire league. The Bucks have come extremely close to winning in their past two meetings, but this newfound momentum heading into Christmas will spark them into life to try and continue climbing up their Conference.
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.