Cavaliers vs Bucks Free Pick, NBA Free Pick & Predictions 2/25/26

J.A. Cavalier
12 hours ago
2 min read

NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS

Cavaliers vs Bucks Free Pick

The Cleveland Cavaliers (37-22) head to Fiserv Forum tonight for a critical Central Division matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks (25-31), a game layered with momentum, injuries, and recent head-to-head history.

Cleveland enters as one of the league’s hottest teams, having won eight of its last ten, including an impressive 109-94 road victory over the Knicks last night. Their recent surge has been fueled by disciplined defense and efficient half-court execution. The Cavaliers have also controlled this matchup in recent seasons, winning seven straight against Milwaukee and eight of the last ten overall.

However, tonight presents a different dynamic. Cleveland will be without Donovan Mitchell (groin) and Evan Mobley (injury management), removing both a primary scorer and a key defensive anchor from the rotation. Those absences significantly alter their offensive hierarchy and interior presence, especially on the second night of a back-to-back.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, continues to operate without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) but has managed to stay competitive, winning seven of its last ten games. The Bucks have leaned more heavily on perimeter scoring and structured half-court sets in his absence, focusing on spacing and ball movement to compensate for the loss of their dominant interior force.

From a betting standpoint, this matchup becomes a test of depth and adaptability.

Cleveland’s recent dominance in the series is notable, but the injury landscape creates a new equation. Milwaukee’s home-court advantage and ability to recalibrate without Giannis add volatility to a contest that, on paper, might otherwise lean clearly toward the Cavaliers.

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FREE PICK Over 223.5

This one sets up like a scoreboard game. Both teams have been trending Over, with three of their last five games clearing the number on each side. Milwaukee’s defense lately? Not exactly Fort Knox. They rank 7th-worst in defensive rating at 116.4, and they’re allowing the 3rd-highest field goal percentage in the restricted area. Translation: if you get downhill, you’re eating. Now Cleveland may be without Mitchell, but they’re not exactly rolling out interns. James Harden is orchestrating, averaging 8.0 assists per game and shooting a ridiculous 48.8% from three since arriving. That’s not a slump — that’s efficiency. On the other side, the Bucks are 2nd in the NBA in effective field goal percentage at 57.2% and 1st in corner three-point percentage at 44.5%. That’s elite shot quality. Over the last 12 games, both teams rank top-10 in three-point shooting. So what do we have? Two offenses spacing the floor, two defenses giving up high-value looks, and a total sitting at 223.5.