New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction

After seven years there as a player, one-time All-Star guard Jrue Holiday returns to the Smoothie King Center in rival colours for the title-contending Milwaukee Bucks (11-6) in the early hours on Saturday.

He's the Pelicans' all-time leader at 3 PM (628), second for assists (2,833), third total FGM (2,876) and ranks fourth for minutes played across the franchise's 19-year history too.

With all of that in mind though, his former teammates will hope it's not a triumphant return for the 30-year-old this weekend. After all, he and those new teammates are second in the Eastern Conference and have won two straight after defeats against the Nets and Lakers last week.

Can they build on their 124-106 win over the COVID-stricken Washington Wizards with successive victories for only the second time this term? Or will Giannis and co ease to victory here? Read my basketball preview, for the best betting odds ahead of this compelling H2H matchup.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks Preview

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton both had 24 points, Brook Lopez added 20 while Milwaukee got some solid bench production en route to a 115-108 win away at Toronto.

Donte DiVincenzo's five-point sequence allowed them separation to pull away, having engaged in a back-and-forth affair down the stretch. A minute earlier, his turnover helped Toronto take an 83-84 lead, but the third-year guard responded in style.

His dunk - assisted by Giannis - was followed with a steal and flagrant foul drawn on Kyle Lowry as he drove to the basket once more. From that play onwards, Toronto missed four of their next seven shots with three fouls and a turnover which saw them trail by nine with just over five minutes left.

Despite their best efforts, the recovery wasn't one they could manage in time. Antetokounmpo, who was one assist shy of his third triple-double of the campaign, praised DiVincenzo's efforts post-game.

"It [his contribution] was huge. He had the dunk, the steal and they hit him in the face - but he was playing the right way, really helped us tonight."

Lopez had his fifth-straight double-figure scoring game - 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting - while Bobby Portis, D.J. Augustin and Bryn Forbes recorded respectable numbers from the bench.

The Pels snapped a three-game losing streak (Utah Jazz twice, Minnesota Timberwolves) to blast past an out-of-sorts Wizards team.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram each scored a season-high 32 points to outlast a depleted Wizards effort - rather emphasised by Bradley Beal's 47. Van Gundy praised his star duo's teamwork, more than their individual statistics:

"Brandon and Zion were both very unselfish. That's something that those guys want to do, helped their teammates win and still put up big numbers."

Ingram had eight assists - the fourth time he's had that number this term, while Williamson's readiness to pass rather than force shots when the defence collapsed on him was key.

Steven Adams had 18 rebounds, and Eric Bledsoe contributed 18 points while Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both saw an increase in minutes from the bench after Lonzo Ball's absence (ankle).

With speculation over his future, as well as that of experienced sharpshooter JJ Redick, it'll be interesting to see how NOLA fare against tougher opposition - especially in the backcourt.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Tips

ESPN's Basketball Power Index have given Milwaukee almost a 2-to-1 chance of emerging victorious in this away clash (64.8%), unsurprising considering the Pelicans' inconsistent start to the season thus far.

They average 10 more points (119.8) and shoot better from the floor (48.7% FG) while leading the other important categories in per-game numbers. This feels like a mismatch of sorts, one Van Gundy will need big displays from Williamson and Ingram, in particular, to keep competitive.

If both can enjoy efficient displays while their defence forces tough shots on Giannis (26.8 PPG), they have a chance. Ultimately though, plenty has to go right for them to win - I'm backing the Bucks here.