Milwaukee Bucks vs. Washington Wizards: Preview, odds, and prediction for November 24, 2023
These teams will square off again on Friday night after their Monday matchup. This time, the Washington Wizards (2-12; 6-8-0 ATS) are traveling, bringing their skills to Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Bucks (10-5; 6-8-1 ATS) are still climbing the Eastern Conference in the meantime. Washington is already out of the Wizards vs. Bucks game, which is also an In-Season Tournament matchup. If Milwaukee can improve to 3-0 and Miami loses, they will have made progress. A tiebreaker exists because the Bucks have the best In-Season Tournament point differential in the Eastern Conference. Will the Wizards blow a huge chance to the Bucks?
Washington’s Problems Persist
The Wizards are in a downward spiral as they head into Wisconsin with a seven-game losing streak, just 14 games into the season. Despite Kyle Kuzma’s 28 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, the team was unable to hold onto a 19-point lead. Naturally, the responsibility for that collapse started at the other end of the court, where Washington, according to NBA.com, ranks 28th in defensive rating. They permit 67.3% of shots to be made at the rim (ranked 29th), 47.1% of midrange attempts (ranked 28th), and 36.3% of three-point shots (18th). Additionally, Washington’s defensive rebounding percentage is the lowest in the NBA. It’s unlikely that this Wizards team will make many stops.
An offense that ranks just 22nd in offensive rating is under a lot of pressure because of that. Not helping matters are the NBA’s lowest offensive rebounding percentage and a 27th-ranked free throw rate (the ratio of free throws to field goal attempts). Washington is also one of the ten teams in the league with the lowest percentage of threes (35.1%) and midrange attempts (39.5%) made. Thankfully, 66.3% (4th) of their shots are made, and 38.1% (6th) of their shots are made at the rim. They must attack the rim and make their free throws if they hope to end their current losing streak.
