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Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Game 4 odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Tuesday’s Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Game 4 odds and lines, with NBA picks, tips and predictions.

The 3-seed Milwaukee Bucks (2-1) play the 5-seed Atlanta Hawks (1-2) Tuesday at State Farm Arena in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Bucks vs. Hawks odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.

Milwaukee took control of this series with a 113-102 Game 3 win in what was a seesaw battle for three quarters before Bucks SF Khris Middleton erupted for 20 points in the fourth quarter to key the victory.

Atlanta had a major injury scare in the second half when PG Trae Young exited the game due to injury after stepping on an official’s foot and rolling his ankle. Young returned minutes later but was clearly playing through injury.

Bucks at Hawks: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:20 p.m. ET.

Money line: Bucks -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Hawks +220 (bet $100 to win $220)
Against the spread/ATS: Bucks -6.5 (-115) | Hawks +6.5 (-105)
Over/Under: 219.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Bucks at Hawks: Key injuries

Hawks

PG Trae Young (foot) questionable
SG Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) probable

Bucks

PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) probable

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Bucks at Hawks: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Bucks 114, Hawks 102

Money line (ML)

PASS even though Milwaukee is clearly the right side, especially if Trae is less than 100% healthy, but the Bucks (-275) are a little out of my price range for an outright winner.

Milwaukee is leading in three of the “four factors” for this series but Game 3 hung in the balance until Middleton snapped in the fourth quarter and outscored Atlanta on his own.

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Against the spread (ATS)

“LEAN” to the BUCKS -6.5 (-115) for a half unit because if Trae is at all impaired by his tweaked ankle then he’ll probably not attack the basket as aggressively. That would diminish Atlanta’s strength of getting to the charity stripe.

The Hawks led the NBA in FT/FGA rate during the regular season but the Bucks led the NBA in defensive FT/FGA rate in the regular season and are No. 1 in the postseason.

Furthermore, Young’s backcourt teammates aren’t pulling their weight in this series. Guards Kevin Huerter, Lou Williams and Bogdanovic are shooting a combined 30.7% from the field.

Lastly, NBA talking heads are quick to knock Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo when he’s not making fourth-quarter free throws or if the Bucks lose but the basketball community doesn’t give him the praise he deserves.

Giannis is averaging 29.2 points per game on 54.6% shooting with 13.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this postseason. He has nine 30-point, 10-rebound games.

Over/Under (O/U)

Slight “LEAN” to the UNDER 219.5 (-110) for a quarter unit only because we are getting the worst of the number since the Bucks-Hawks Game 4 total opened at 222 before the market started hammering the Under.

However, Trae’s injury concerns plus the fact neither team is scoring many points at the foul line combined with both teams playing at a slower tempo in the postseason should result in a lower-scoring affair.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

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Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Game 3 odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Sunday’s Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Game 3 odds and lines, with NBA picks, tips and predictions.

The 5-seed Atlanta Hawks (1-1) host the 3-seed Milwaukee Bucks (1-1) Sunday for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Finals playoff series. Tip-off at State Farm Arena is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Bucks vs. Hawks odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.

Milwaukee destroyed the Hawks Friday in Game 2, 125-91, as the Bucks outshot them 52.1% to 41.5% from the field and outrebounded them 47-34, while Atlanta committed 19 turnovers with just 13 assists.

Also, Milwaukee did a much better job defending Trae Young in Game 2, holding him to just 15 points on 37.5% shooting (1-for-8 from behind the arc) and 3 assists on 9 turnovers. Trae lit the Bucks up for 48 points and 11 assists in Game 1.

Bucks at Hawks: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:21 p.m. ET.

Money line: Bucks -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Hawks +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
Against the spread/ATS: Bucks -4.5 (-110) | Hawks +4.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 223.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Bucks at Hawks: Key injuries

Hawks

SG Bogdan Bogdanović (knee) questionable

Bucks

PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) probable

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Bucks at Hawks: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Bucks 115, Hawks 104

Money line (ML)

PASS because I’d rather be greedy and lay the points with Milwaukee than risk two times my money with the Bucks (-200) money line.

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Against the spread (ATS)

Bucks first-year PG Jrue Holiday played much better on both ends of the floor in Game 2 than in Game 1.

Not only was Holiday instrumental in holding Trae in check, but he added 22 points on 64.3% shooting (3-for-4 from three) and 7 assists.

If Holiday continues to give the Bucks this kind of two-way play then the Hawks have little chance of stealing the series.

Additionally, Giannis has upped his production vs. Atlanta in the playoffs, going from averaging 24.3 points and 4.7 assists per game in the three regular-season Bucks-Hawks meetings to scoring 29.5 points per game with 7.5 assists per game in this series.

Even though this series is technically tied, Milwaukee has been better in three of the “four factors” through two games and it took sheer brilliance out of Trae for Atlanta to steal Game 1.

“LEAN” to the BUCKS -4 (-120) for a half unit because Milwaukee is easy to defend if its 3-point shots aren’t falling since the Bucks have the lowest FT/FGA rate in the playoffs.

Over/Under (O/U)

BET the UNDER 223.5 (-110) for 1 unit as my best bet in Bucks-Hawks Game 3 because the presumed “sharp” money is on the Under while the public is betting the Over.

For instance, according to Pregame.com, nearly 55% of the money wagered is on the Under whereas more than 60% of the bets placed are on the Over.

Typically, it’s more profitable in sports betting to follow the money – especially when it’s flowing in the opposite direction as your “average Joe”.

More to the point, oddsmakers moved the total down from the 225-point opener to the current number in reaction to the “sharp” money.

Furthermore, Atlanta’s offense and Trae himself rely on getting to the charity stripe since the Hawks were first in FT/FGA rate during the regular season, but Milwaukee does a good job keeping opponents off the foul line. The Bucks had the best defensive FTA/FG rate in the regular season and in these playoffs.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

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Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks Game 1 odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Wednesday’s Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks Game 1 odds and lines, with NBA picks, tips and predictions.

The 3-seed Milwaukee Bucks host the 5-seed Atlanta Hawks Wednesday at Fiserv Forum for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Hawks-Bucks odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.

Each team advanced to the conference final via Game 7 victories. The Hawks upset the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers 103-96 as 6.5-point road underdogs. The Bucks did the same to the second-seeded Brooklyn Nets as 2-point underdogs, winning 115-111 in overtime.

The Bucks won and covered two of their three regular-season meetings with the Hawks but Atlanta snapped a six-game losing skid (3-3 against the spread) to Milwaukee with its April 25 win.

Hawks at Bucks: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:40 p.m. ET.

Money line: Hawks +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Bucks -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
Against the spread/ATS: Hawks +8 (-110) | Bucks -8 (-110)
Over/Under: 225.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Hawks at Bucks: Key injuries

Hawks

SG Kevin Huerter (ankle) probable
SG Bogdan Bogdanović (knee) questionable
SG Cam Reddish (Achilles) questionable

Bucks

Nothing affecting the betting odds.

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Promotion available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV and Washington D.C.

Place all of your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Hawks at Bucks: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Bucks 116, Hawks 106

Money line (ML)

PASS even though Milwaukee is the right side because the Bucks are too expensive for an outright win, especially in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. No way is this the spot to lay -350 on the money line.

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Against the spread (ATS)

“LEAN” to the BUCKS -8 (-110) for a half unit; however, there are a few reasons to like Milwaukee by a margin in this one.

First, according to Pregame.com, the presumed “sharp” side of the market is backing Milwaukee but a slight majority of the public is on Atlanta.

My perception was that everyone would be betting the Bucks in Game 1 but the Hawks’ gritty postseason play is winning people over. It’s refreshing that there’s a split in the market on this game.

Second, prior to the final Hawks-Bucks regular-season meeting, Milwaukee won six straight over Atlanta. The previous three games were by double digits, and the Bucks were in control of their April 25 loss before a flukey fourth quarter.

The Hawks outscored the Bucks 41-26 in the fourth but Atlanta guards Bogdanović and Lou Williams combined for 27 points alone on 8 of 9 3-point shooting. More importantly, Hawks PG Trae Young didn’t even play in that game.

Furthermore, Bogdanović isn’t 100% entering Game 1 and Huerter—Atlanta’s breakout star from Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals—isn’t sneaking up on the Bucks.

Huerter scored a team-high 27 points on 55.6% shooting in Atlanta’s Game 7 win over Philly and he scored 20 points in the Hawks’ April 25 win over the Bucks.

However, Milwaukee’s defensive bulldog—SF P.J. Tucker—missed that game and I’d assume he gets assigned to Huerter who’s cover as an “average player” is blown.

Also, Atlanta’s offense is obviously Trae-centered (his 34.6% playoff usage rate is the highest of any remaining player in the postseason) and Milwaukee PG Jrue Holiday is the perfect foil.

Holiday and Young were active for the Hawks-Bucks April 15 meeting. Trae scored only 15 points on 17.6% shooting (0-for-3 on 3-pointers) with 6 turnovers. Young shot 0-for-8 and committed 5 turnovers when Holiday defended him.

It’s only a “LEAN” to the BUCKS -8 (-110) because the Hawks are 2-0 ATS in Game 1s this postseason while Milwaukee is 0-2 ATS in Game 1s and the Bucks are the second-worst free throw team this postseason.

Over/Under (O/U)

“LEAN” to the UNDER 225.5 (-110) for a half unit only because we are getting the worst of the number as the Hawks-Bucks opened at 229.5 but the market has steamed it down to the listed number.

That being said, both teams are playing at a slower pace in these playoffs than in the regular season and each defense does a good job defending what the other offense does well.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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