NBA · Final

Bucks Edge Hornets in Thrilling Finish

121

122

Friday, January 2, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Fiserv Forum

Milwaukee Bucks 122, Charlotte Hornets 121, final. Our NBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks?

Milwaukee Bucks beat Charlotte Hornets 122-121 at Fiserv Forum on January 2, 2026.

Who was favored in Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks?

Milwaukee Bucks were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -230 (about 70% implied). The favorite won.

In a closely contested matchup, the Milwaukee Bucks narrowly defeated the Charlotte Hornets 122-121 at the Fiserv Forum on January 2, 2026. This victory marked the Bucks' fourth win in their last five meetings against the Hornets, extending their series lead to 3-1 this season. The game was characterized by a series of intense scoring plays, particularly in the fourth quarter, where both teams exchanged leads multiple times.

The Bucks entered the game with a home record of 15-20, while the Hornets had struggled on the road, holding an 11-23 record. Milwaukee's recent form showed a 4-6 record over their last ten games, with an average of 107.8 points scored and 111.5 points allowed. They had lost their last game against the Washington Wizards 113-114, which highlighted their struggle to close out tight contests. Conversely, Charlotte also posted a 4-6 record in their last ten games, averaging 118.6 points scored but allowing 120.1 points, indicating a defensive vulnerability. The Hornets were coming off a loss to the Golden State Warriors, where they fell 125-132.

At home, the Bucks had a record of 1-2 in their last three games, while the Hornets were 2-4 in their last six away games. The Bucks' scoring average at home was lower than their overall average, reflecting their recent difficulties in securing wins at the Fiserv Forum. The Hornets, while averaging more points on the road, had also been inconsistent, leading to their struggles in away matchups.

The game featured several key players dealing with injuries. For the Bucks, Kevin Porter Jr. was listed as Day-To-Day due to a knee issue. The Hornets faced similar challenges, with Brandon Miller and PJ Hall both listed as Day-To-Day due to shoulder and ankle injuries, respectively. The absence or limited availability of these players could have significant implications on the teams' performance and depth.

The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had the Bucks favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 233.5. The odds reflected a belief in the Bucks' ability to secure a win at home, despite their recent struggles. The moneyline showed Milwaukee at -230.0, while Charlotte was at 190.0, indicating a clear expectation of a Bucks victory.

Conditions for the game were typical for indoor basketball, with no significant external factors impacting play. Fans could expect an exciting matchup, with the Bucks looking to leverage their home-court advantage against a Hornets team that had shown flashes of offensive brilliance but struggled defensively.

As the game unfolded, the fourth quarter was particularly thrilling, with multiple lead changes. Notable scoring plays included a crucial alley-oop dunk by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was instrumental in the Bucks' late-game surge. The Hornets' Miles Bridges also made significant contributions, including key free throws and layups that kept Charlotte in contention until the final moments. The game concluded with a dramatic finish, as the Bucks managed to edge out the Hornets, showcasing the competitive nature of both teams and the high stakes involved.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	MIL -5.5	233.5 o -115 / u -105	Charlotte Hornets +190 · Milwaukee Bucks -230

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Injury report

Kevin Porter Jr.Day-To-DayKneeMilwaukee Bucks
Brandon MillerDay-To-DayShoulderCharlotte Hornets
PJ HallDay-To-DayAnkleCharlotte Hornets

Leaders

PointsGiannis Antetokounmpo30Milwaukee Bucks
AssistsKevin Porter Jr.10Milwaukee Bucks
ReboundsGiannis Antetokounmpo10Milwaukee Bucks
PointsKon Knueppel26Charlotte Hornets
AssistsLaMelo Ball7Charlotte Hornets
ReboundsPJ Hall8Charlotte Hornets

Recent form

Milwaukee Bucks

Last 10: 4-6Streak L1107.8 scored · 111.5 allowed per game1-2 at home

L113-114vs Washington WizardsJan 1
W123-113at Charlotte HornetsDec 30
W112-103at Chicago BullsDec 28
L104-125at Memphis GrizzliesDec 27
W111-94at Indiana PacersDec 24
L100-103at Minnesota TimberwolvesDec 22
L105-111vs Toronto RaptorsDec 19
L82-127at Brooklyn NetsDec 14
W116-101vs Boston CelticsDec 12
L112-124at Detroit PistonsDec 7

Charlotte Hornets

Last 10: 4-6Streak L2118.6 scored · 120.1 allowed per game2-2 away

L125-132vs Golden State WarriorsDec 31
L113-123vs Milwaukee BucksDec 30
W120-105at Orlando MagicDec 27
W126-109vs Washington WizardsDec 24
L132-139at Cleveland CavaliersDec 23
L86-112at Detroit PistonsDec 21
W133-126vs Atlanta HawksDec 19
W119-111at Cleveland CavaliersDec 14
L126-129vs Chicago BullsDec 13
L106-115vs Denver NuggetsDec 7

Standings

Team	Games behind	Lost	Streak	Win %	Won
Atlanta	-	36	L1	.561	46
Orlando	1	37	L1	.549	45
Charlotte	2	38	W1	.537	44
Miami	3	39	W2	.524	43
Washington	29	65	L10	.207	17
Detroit	-	22	W3	.732	60
Cleveland	8	30	W1	.634	52
Milwaukee	28	50	L1	.390	32
Chicago	29	51	L2	.378	31
Indiana	41	63	L2	.232	19

Box score

Stat	Charlotte Hornets	Milwaukee Bucks
Field goals	40-82	45-87
Field goal %	49	52
Three-pointers	18-40	16-37
Three-point %	45	43
Free throws	23-28	16-18
Free throw %	82	89
Rebounds	39	36
Offensive rebounds	8	8
Defensive rebounds	31	28
Assists	27	31
Steals	5	7
Blocks	3	4
Turnovers	14	11
Team turnovers	0	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	1
Points off turnovers	13	13
Fast-break points	14	16
Points in the paint	38	48
Fouls	18	23
Largest lead	16	3
Lead changes	11	11
Time in front	79	10

How the scoring went

3rd Quarter85-82Brandon Miller makes 23-foot three point jumper (Sion James assists)
3rd Quarter88-82Brandon Miller makes 26-foot three pointer
3rd Quarter88-84Kyle Kuzma makes 14-foot driving floating jump shot (Kevin Porter Jr. assists)
3rd Quarter88-85Kyle Kuzma makes free throw 1 of 1
3rd Quarter91-85Sion James makes 27-foot three point jumper (Brandon Miller assists)
4th Quarter93-85PJ Hall makes tip in dunk
4th Quarter93-88Bobby Portis makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ryan Rollins assists)
4th Quarter93-89Bobby Portis makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter93-90Bobby Portis makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter96-90Collin Sexton makes 22-foot three point jumper (Kon Knueppel assists)
4th Quarter99-90Miles Bridges makes 25-foot three point jumper (LaMelo Ball assists)
4th Quarter99-92Ryan Rollins makes 13-foot driving floating jump shot
4th Quarter102-92Kon Knueppel makes 28-foot three point jumper (Miles Bridges assists)
4th Quarter102-95Bobby Portis makes 26-foot three point jumper (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)
4th Quarter102-97Giannis Antetokounmpo makes driving layup (Gary Trent Jr. assists)
4th Quarter102-100Bobby Portis makes 24-foot running jump shot (Kyle Kuzma assists)
4th Quarter103-100Collin Sexton makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter104-100Collin Sexton makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter105-100Collin Sexton makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter106-100Collin Sexton makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter106-102Giannis Antetokounmpo makes layup (Ryan Rollins assists)
4th Quarter106-103Giannis Antetokounmpo makes free throw 1 of 1
4th Quarter109-105LaMelo Ball makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
4th Quarter109-107Kevin Porter Jr. makes driving dunk
4th Quarter110-107LaMelo Ball makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter111-107LaMelo Ball makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter111-109AJ Green makes 15-foot pullup jump shot (Kevin Porter Jr. assists)
4th Quarter113-109Kon Knueppel makes 10-foot tip in dunk
4th Quarter113-111Giannis Antetokounmpo makes 4-foot reverse layup (Ryan Rollins assists)
4th Quarter113-112Giannis Antetokounmpo makes free throw 1 of 1
4th Quarter114-112Brandon Miller makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter115-112Miles Bridges makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter116-112Miles Bridges makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter116-114Giannis Antetokounmpo makes alley oop layup (Ryan Rollins assists)
4th Quarter116-117Ryan Rollins makes 25-foot three pointer (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)
4th Quarter118-117Miles Bridges makes 1-foot two point shot (LaMelo Ball assists)
4th Quarter118-120Kyle Kuzma makes 27-foot three point jumper (Ryan Rollins assists)
4th Quarter120-120Miles Bridges makes alley oop layup (Sion James assists)
4th Quarter121-120Miles Bridges makes free throw 1 of 1
4th Quarter121-122Giannis Antetokounmpo makes alley oop dunk (Kevin Porter Jr. assists)