I'm expecting a strong effort from the Bucks, perhaps the most improved team in the NBA at 11-11. Milwaukee allowed Dallas to shoot 58.3 percent from the floor in its last game two days ago in a 125-102 road loss.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd questioned his team's energy and effort after the game. Milwaukee is 28-11-1 ATS following a straight-up loss.

The Bucks draw the Thunder playing at home for the first time in a week. Oklahoma City just returned from a three-game road trip where it wasn't particularly sharp losing to the Pelicans, beat the 76ers by 12 and hung on to nip the Pistons by two this past Sunday. The Thunder have a marquee matchup up next when they host LeBron James and Cleveland on Thursday in a nationally televised game.

This will be Kevin Durant's fourth game back after missing the first 17 games with a broken foot. His minutes are being capped at around 30 per game. The Thunder remain a work in progress as Durant and Russell Westbrook, who also had been out, get back in sync with their teammates and new roles are adjusted.

The Bucks have covered nine of their last 12 versus Western Conference foes while Oklahoma City is 2-11 ATS against Eastern Conference teams.