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The 6-seed Indiana Pacers and 3-seed Milwaukee Bucks meet in Game 2 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference, 1st-round series Tuesday. The Bucks lead the series 1-0. Tip-off from Fiserv Forum is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Pacers vs. Bucks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Stephen A. Smith has a saying that the great ones will get you 1. It refers to Allen Iverson carrying the Philadelphia 76ers to 1 win against the mighty Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001 NBA Finals. G Damian Lillard got Milwaukee 1 and reminded everyone that even at 33 years old, it’s still Dame Time. He dropped a franchise-record 35 points in the first half of Game 1 as the Bucks prevailed 109-94 without F Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).
The Pacers held him scoreless in the 2nd half as he attempted just 5 shots, but the damage was done. The Pacers shot just 8-for-38 (21%) from 3-point range, and G Tyrese Haliburton had just 9 points. F Pascal Siakam had his way with 36 points and 13 boards, but it wasn’t enough. F Bobby Portis Jr. (15 points, 11 boards) and F Khris Middleton (23 points, 10 boards) each had double-doubles for Milwaukee.
Pacers at Bucks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:25 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Pacers +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Bucks -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Pacers +1.5 (-115) | Bucks -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 223.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Pacers at Bucks key injuries
Pacers
- F Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) out
Bucks
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) doubtful
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Pacers at Bucks picks and predictions
Prediction
Pacers 115, Bucks 110
Moneyline
No road team has won a game in the playoffs this year since entering the best-of-7 format. That changes here.
Giannis is listed as doubtful, but he’s not playing. If the Bucks lost Game 1, maybe you could see them risk it, but a calf injury requires time. The books agree, as the Bucks are merely -120 favorites.
The Pacers were 4-2 against the Bucks this season, and they won 2 in this building. Take the PACERS +100.
Against the spread
There’s no point in taking the spread here, as we’re going with the value on the ML.
The Pacers scored a league-high 123.3 PPG in the regular season and were held below 99 points for the 1st time in Game 1. They’ll respond. Take PACERS OVER 110.5 TOTAL POINTS (-140).
Over/Under
The Under 230 cashed in Game 1, and the market has corrected itself down 7 points. The trends and historical data are a moot point. Without Giannis, the numbers are heavily skewed, but what we can count on is the Bucks to approach 110, and I believe the Pacers shoot better than a measly 21% from 3.
Take the OVER 223.5 (-110).
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