The Milwaukee Bucks (31-17) take on the Indiana Pacers (24-26) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Bucks vs. Pacers odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Bucks are getting healthy and expected to be serious title contenders while the Pacers are hoping to make the play-in game. Both scenarios took a small hit on Wednesday.
The Bucks struggled to beat a Denver Nuggets’ B team 107-99, failing to cover as 12.5-point favorites at home. Milwaukee was outrebounded and had more turnovers.
The Pacers, still without G Tyrese Haliburton, are not a playoff team. They have lost 8 of 9 and just lost to a last-place Orlando Magic team 126-120 as 4.5-point road underdogs.
Milwaukee beat the Pacers in the 1st meeting this season 132-119 at home on Jan. 16 as 4.5-point favorites as the Over hit.
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Bucks at Pacers odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:16 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bucks -330 (bet $330 to win $100) | Pacers +270 (bet $100 to win $270)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks -8.5 (+100) | Pacers +8.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 237.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Bucks at Pacers key injuries
Bucks
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) probable
- G MarJon Beauchamp (knee) questionable
- C Serge Ibaka (personal reasons) out
- F Bobby Portis (knee) out
Pacers
- G Tyrese Haliburton (knee) out
- G Andrew Nembhard (wrist) questionable
- F Myles Turner (ankle) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Bucks at Pacers picks and predictions
Prediction
Bucks 124, Pacers 114
Moneyline
Milwaukee has a problem taking care of the ball and they rank 27th in turnovers per game. Will that be enough for Indiana to pull off the upset? Probably not.
Indiana is 25th in shooting efficiency, which is not far from Milwaukee at 23rd. The difference is that the Bucks are dominant on the boards ranking 1st in defensive rebounds per game and 8th in offensive rebounds. As long as the Bucks take care of the ball they shouldn’t have much trouble. But the current line is too juicy so AVOID and look toward the spread.
Against the spread
The Bucks have covered in 5 of the last 6 games coming off a game where they didn’t cover. They also have covered in 5 of the last 6 games against opponents with losing records.
The Pacers have not covered in 4 straight attempts after allowing more than 125 points. And the Pacers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games against teams with a winning record.
The Pacers do have a winning home record (16-9), which is why the line is tighter than it should be. As long as everyone on the Bucks suit up I would be surprised if Indiana kept it together.
LEAN BUCKS -8.5 (+100).
Over/Under
The Bucks and Pacers rank 5th and 6th in 3-pointers made. On top of that Indiana’s 3-point defense 19th in the league.
Trendwise the Pacers have gone over in 12 of the last 16 games against teams above .600.
BET OVER 237.5 (-110).
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