Bryan Armetta shares his preview, prediction and pick for Wednesday’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Thunder (36-8, 1st in West) will head up north tonight for a date with the Bucks (18-24, 11th in East). Oklahoma City is off to a roaring start, looking to secure a second straight title. Still, in the loaded Western Conference, every game matters. As for Milwaukee, it’s been a difficult campaign to say the least. With that being said, a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo should strike some fear into OKC.

Who will triumph in this inter-conference showdown? Here’s my preview, prediction, and pick for Wednesday’s Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks matchup.

The Thunder are 11.5-point favorites (-108) over the Bucks on DraftKings Sportsbook. Oklahoma City is favored at -535 on the moneyline. The total for this contest is set at 224.5 points.

Thunder vs. Bucks prediction, preview

At this point, what more can be said about Oklahoma City’s dominance? The Thunder rank first in defensive rating (106.6) and fourth in offensive rating (119.9). Their leader, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is on track for a second-straight MVP award. This season, the guard is averaging 31.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists on 55% shooting from the field. He’s joined by a rotation that can go ten-deep with quality role players. Few clubs in NBA history have combined this level of depth, athleticism and experience.

With that being said, OKC will be without some of its most important pieces tonight. Jalen Williams (hamstring), Alex Caruso (groin), and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) are all sidelined. The latter’s absence means more minutes at the five for Chet Holmgren. The third-year pro has recorded 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game this season. Expect the Thunder to roll with some combination of Lu Dort and Cason Wallace on the wings. That duo, while limited offensively, provides elite perimeter defense.

Even at less than 100%, taking down Oklahoma City is a tall order. That’s especially true for a Bucks club that has struggled against quality opponents. With that being said, Milwaukee has a respectable 15-13 record when Antetokounmpo takes the floor. This season, the Greek Freak is averaging 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game while shooting an efficient 65% from the field. In a matchup with fellow MVP Gilgeous-Alexander, expect Giannis to come out firing.

The issue is with the rest of this Bucks roster. Milwaukee ranks 23rd in offensive rating (113.7) and 19th in defensive rating (116.9). Granted, those numbers would improve if Antetokounmpo was healthy all year. Regardless, this group is far removed from running the Eastern Conference. To make matters worse, offseason acquisition Myles Turner (ankle) won’t take the court. That means more minutes than usual for Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma down low.

Thunder vs. Bucks pick, best bet

It’s not just that the Thunder win games; it’s how they win. Oklahoma City has delivered an NBA-leading 13.5 average scoring margin. The next-closest club, Detroit, is at 7.3. While the defending champs aren’t immune to a letdown performance, they just dropped a game to Miami on Saturday. With two days of rest, I’m expecting a much better showing. In comparison, the Bucks have only gone 6-18 against teams above .500. Even with Antetokounmpo in action, it’s difficult to see that changing on Wednesday.

Best Bet: Thunder -11.5 (-108)