NBA on TNT picks: Lakers vs. Bucks and Rockets vs. Clippers

Four of the NBA's best teams will be in action Thursday night, as the Bucks host the Lakers in Milwaukee and the Rockets tangle with the Clippers in Los Angeles. We have odds and picks for both marquee matchups below.

Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. ET

It may only be December 19, but NBA games don't get much bigger than tonight's Lakers-Bucks tilt at the Fiserv Forum. Los Angeles and Milwaukee enter this clash atop their respective conferences with identical 24-4 records. The Lakers have already rattled off three winning streaks of seven games or more, while the Bucks won 18 consecutive contests from November 10 to December 14.

In an era of high scores, both teams are making their bones on defense. Milwaukee and Los Angeles rank in the top three in defensive rating and have shown an impressive knack for shutting down opponents. The Bucks have been especially good at limiting opportunities in the paint, thanks to the play of Brook Lopez, who ranks fifth in the NBA in blocks, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose massive wingspan leads to countless deflections and kick-outs. Both players always seem to be in the right place at the right time, and play the kind of smart, smothering defense that all coaches love.

The Lakers have also received strong interior defense from the trio of Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard, but their lockdown defense has been led by their guards. Danny Green and Avery Bradley have done a phenomenal job of shutting down passing lanes and beating opponents to their favorite spots. Even Rajon Rondo has shown signs of life and is posting his best defensive rating since 2013.

The Lakers and Bucks rank in the top five in opponent field goal percentage, opponent points in the paint and opponent second-chance points. Add it all up, and it's clear buckets will be at a premium tonight. Take the Under and watch in wonder as two NBA Goliaths go head-to-head.

NBA free pick: Bucks -4 and Under 225

Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET*

*Odds for the Houston Rockets are available at BetAmerica's new Pennsylvania sportsbook 

The Lakers and Bucks may be the class of the NBA, but the Clippers aren't far behind. L.A. is 21-8 this season and has been extremely hard to beat when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have both been in the lineup. That was especially evident in the Clippers' two games against the Rockets in November.

Houston downed L.A. 102-93 on November 13 with George on the sideline, and L.A. beat Houston 122-119 on November 22 with Leonard and George both in the starting lineup. Leonard sealed that particular game with a contested jump shot with 15 ticks on the clock. The Clippers' dynamic duo has combined to average 50.2 points, 13.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 3.4 steals per contest, and has led L.A. to a 10-2 record in the dozen games they've shared the court.

Only discussing Leonard and George's offensive impact is a little bit like going to the Louvre and only visiting the gift shop. The Klaw and PG-13 are dominant ball stoppers who are both among the league leaders in swipes per game. The feisty pair limited James Harden to 16 shots in their last encounter and should cause the Beard fits again tonight. Take the Clippers to win and cover.

NBA free pick: Clippers moneyline

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