Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The Denver Nuggets enter this one in a difficult phase, battling through without their MVP centre Nikola Jokić. Results without him have been mixed — two wins from five — and now they face a resurgent Milwaukee Bucks side that’s tightened up significantly at the defensive end.
Denver Nuggets
Take away the explosive outing against the Houston Rockets (116:111), where Jamal Murray dropped 39 points, and the Nuggets have struggled to create consistent offence in Jokić’s absence. In the other nine games, they’ve averaged just 109 points per 100 possessions — well below their season mark of 119.9. The pressure has shifted to Aaron Gordon, who’s playing through an ankle issue. Without him fully fit, head coach Michael Malone is forced to rely on a shaky supporting cast: rookie Peyton Watson, veteran DeAndre Jordan, and 24-year-old Zeke Nnaji — hardly a reassuring mix.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks’ defence has come alive post All-Star break. They now rank third in defensive rating (110.3), despite facing five of the league’s top 10 offences during that stretch. The Bucks are locking down the paint, leading the NBA in opponent field goal percentage at the rim (45.7%).
Denver Nuggets vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction
The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t always been known for their defence in recent years, but they’re dialled in right now — and this is the time to take advantage. The Denver Nuggets lack scoring options and rhythm without Nikola Jokić, especially against elite defensive structure. Back the Nuggets to fall short of their team total.
