Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/02/2024

Game Time: 6:30 pm ET, Thursday, May 2, 2024

Venue:  Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN 

Where to Watch:  TNT, MAX

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Bucks +8.5, Pacers -8.5; Over/Under:  215.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Bucks +8.5, Pacers -8.5; Over/Under:  215.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Bucks +8.5, Pacers -8.5; Over/Under:  215.5 points

Milwaukee Bucks:  49-33 (1st place, Central Division)

Indiana Pacers:  47-35 (3rd place, Central Division)

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Milwaukee Bucks:  4-6 last 10

Indiana Pacers:  7-3 last 10

The Bucks are entering this game with a 49-33 record overall to finish the regular season and they were 18-22 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Indiana Pacers in their last game. Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis Jr. each led the team in points in that game with 29 while Malik Beasley was next on the team with 18 points. Patrick Beverley led the team in assists in that game with 12 while Khris Middleton led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 52.4% from the field, 37.9% from 3-point range, and 80% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 119 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 116.4 PPG against them. The Bucks have an ATS record of 38-48-1 this season and their O/U record is 43-43-1.

The Pacers are entering this game with a 47-35 record overall to finish the regular season and they were 26-15 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks in their last game. Tyrese Haliburton led the team in points in that game with 16 while Myles Turner was next on the team with 13 points. Tyrese Haliburton led the team in assists in that game with 6 while Obi Toppin led the team in rebounds with 6. They were 44.4% from the field, 31.6% from 3-point range, and 61.5% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 123.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 120.2 PPG against them. The Pacers have an ATS record of 46-39-3 this season and their O/U record is 45-41-2.

The current betting odds have the Pacers listed as an 8.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 6 of a 7 game series between the 3rd seeded Bucks and the 6th seeded Pacers for Round 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. The Pacers have a 3-2 series lead after the Bucks won game 5 of this series on their home court. The Bucks did a really good job in game 5 to defend their home court and extend this series at least 1 more game, but without Giannis and Lillard in the lineup still, all they did was delay the inevitable in this series. The Bucks got the job done at home without Giannis and Lillard but the Pacers haven't looked nearly as good in their road games this year. They have looked a lot better on their home court with their 26-15 home record and just like the Pacers, the Bucks have looked terrible in their road games this season when healthy, going 18-22 in their road games this year. The Pacers got smacked by the Bucks in game 1 in a similar way but they bounced back from that loss and ended up winning game 2 in Milwaukee by double digits. This game will be no different as the Pacers adjust to this new Bucks lineup without Giannis and Lillard, and they are going to respond on their home court since the Bucks have been a team that they have had a ton of success against this year, especially at home. The best way to place a bet here is on the Pacers to cover the spread in this game.

Bucks Pacers Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Thursday, May 2, 2024 (6:30 pm ET start time) is Pacers 122 Bucks 106.

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Milwaukee Bucks: 15-32 ATS as a road underdog. 1-7 ATS off a win by 10 points or more as an underdog. 16-25 ATS in road games. 14-7 OVER off a home win against a division rival. 10-2 OVER off a huge upset win by 20 points or more as a home underdog. 4-1 OVER when trailing in a playoff series.

Indiana Pacers: 26-16 ATS revenging a loss vs opponent. 13-5 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite. 28-11 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread. 27-16 OVER in home games. 10-5 OVER in a home game where the total is 210 to 219.5. 15-7 OVER after a blowout loss by 20 points or more.

Milwaukee Bucks:  D. Lillard (PG) Ques Thurs - Achilles. C. Livingston (SF) Ques Thurs - Illness. G. Antetokounmpo (SF) Early May - Calf. J. Galloway (SF) Out indefinitely - Ankle.

Indiana Pacers:  B. Mathurin (SG) out for season - Shoulder.

“I don’t know how to answer that. I know I hope. I think they’re very, very, very close.” - Doc Rivers on the availability of Giannis and Lillard after his team’s win against the Pacers in game 5 of this series on Tuesday.

“We just didn't play with the consistent compete level we needed to. I'll take responsibility for that. I didn't have these guys ready the way they needed to be ready to play this game." - Rick Carlisle after his team’s loss against the Bucks in game 5 of this series on Tuesday.

PG Damian Lillard

SG Patrick Beverley

SF Khris Middleton

PF Jae Crowder

C Brook Lopez

PG Tyrese Haliburton

SG Andrew Nembhard

SF Aaron Nesmith 

PF Pascal Siakam 

C Myles Turner

PPG: G. Antetokounmpo (30.4)

APG: D. Lillard (7)

Reb/G: G. Antetokounmpo (11.5)

PPG: P. Siakam (21.7)

APG: T. Haliburton (10.9)

Reb/G: P. Siakam (7.1)

Coaches:

Milwaukee Bucks: Doc Rivers (1st season)

Indiana Pacers: Rick Carlisle (3rd season)