New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, Picks and Odds for Friday, February 20

The New Orleans Pelicans will lock horns with the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans are out of playoff contention as of now, with their 14th seed, and a poor 15-41 record. They will enter the matchup on the back of a blowout loss to the Miami Heat. The Bucks, on the other hand, are seeded 12th in the East, with a win-loss record of 23-30. They will come off a two-game winning streak.

The Pelicans are 4-point favorites with moneyline at -168 and total around 224.5 points. These NBA predictions suggest that the Pelicans are expected to record an upset over Milwaukee. We have got our Best Bet, a same-game parlay, and a few player props for Friday’s game.

Here’s how we are betting New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Best Bet for New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks

Best Bet: New Orleans Pelicans -4 (-110)

Book: Best price at FanDuel

Our best bet for New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks is New Orleans Pelicans -4 (-110) against the spread.

The New Orleans Pelicans are struggling with one of the worst records in the league. At home, they are maintaining a record of 9-20, and are entering the matchup on the back of a loss. On the other hand, the Bucks are coming off two back-to-back wins. Talking about their stats, the Bucks and the Pelicans are seeded near to each other when it comes to offensive rating. In terms of defense, the Bucks are doing slightly better than their rivals. However, the Pelicans are doing better when it comes to home games.

The spread at Pelicans -4 seems too much considering that the hosts aren’t doing too good, and their rivals are coming off wins. We expect the Bucks to give a tight fight to the Pelicans, and record a narrow loss in the last minutes of the game.

Keeping their homecourt advantage in mind, we are laying the New Orleans Pelicans -4 (-110) as our best bet, and expect the hosts to cover the number on Friday.

Same Game Parlay Picks for New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks

3-Leg SGP (Safer)

Leg 1- Trey Murphy III Over 22.5 points
Leg 2- Zion Williamson Over 21.5 points
Leg 3- Saddiq Bey Over 22.5 points

Combined odds: +528

We have built this same-game parlay around the Pelicans’ player dominating their homecourt. Murphy and Williamson are the leading scorers for the hosts, and we expect them to make the most of their homecourt advantage. Bey, on the other hand, averages above 16 points per game, and has been recording around six rebounds per game.

If the Pelicans take control of the game at home, their players will get volume, and they will end up creating scoring opportunities for their teammates. Hence, this is our safer SGP option.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks Odds and Top Player Props

Here are the latest New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks odds from top sportsbooks. Shop around for the latest NBA odds before locking in your bets.

Team	Spread	Moneyline	Total
Milwaukee Bucks	+4 (-110)	+142	O 224.5 (-110)
New Orleans Pelicans	-4 (-110)	-168	U 224.5 (-110)

Odds from FanDuel, updated on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 6 am ET. Lines may move throughout the day.

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New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks Top Player Props

Given how prop-heavy NBA betting is, we are also eyeing these player props for New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Ryan Rollins Over 17.5 points (-122)
Kevin Porter Jr. Over 17.5 points (-114)
Derik Queen Over 7.5 rebounds (+100)

These legs fit well into usage and volume. With Giannis Antetokounmpo missing games, Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. are expected to step up and take charge of scoring for the Bucks. Derik Queen is likely to dominate the glass, and grab a good number of rebounds.

Trends to Know for New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks

Here are a few betting trends to keep in mind for New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks have been 13-16-0 ATS on road this season.
The Pelicans have been 17-12-0 ATS at home this season.
In their last ten games, the Pelicans have been 6-4-0 ATS.

Latest Injuries and NBA Injury Report for New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks

Before betting this game, it’s important to check the NBA injury report, as late scratches and minutes limits can swing spreads and totals in a hurry.

Team	Player	Injury	Status
New Orleans Pelicans	Dejounte Murray	Achilles	Questionable
New Orleans Pelicans	Micah Peavy	Toe	Questionable
New Orleans Pelicans	Yves Missi	Calf	Questionable
New Orleans Pelicans	Trey Murphy III	Shoulder	Questionable
Milwaukee Bucks	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Calf	Questionable
Milwaukee Bucks	Myles Turner	Calf	Questionable
Milwaukee Bucks	Taurean Prince	Neck	Out
Milwaukee Bucks	Ryan Rollins	Foot	Questionable

In the NBA, late injury news and minutes restrictions have a huge impact on spreads and totals, so re-check the injury report and final inactives about an hour before tip-off.

What time is New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks on Friday?

The New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks is scheduled to tip off at 8 pm ET on Friday.

Where will New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks be played?

The New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks will be played at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Where can I watch New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks on TV and live stream?

The New Orleans Pelicans vs Milwaukee Bucks will be available on FDSWI, Gulf Coast Sports, and Pelicans+ on TV. The live stream, on the other hand, will be accessible on Fubo and NBA League Pass.

Detail	Information
Date	Friday, February 20, 2026
Time	8 pm ET
Venue	Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
TV / Live Stream	FDSWI, Gulf Coast Sports, and Pelicans+, NBA League Pass, Fubo