Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Preview
Game three of this first-round Eastern Conference series between the Bucks and Pacers is set for 5:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The series is tied at one game apiece, and the Pacers are favored by 5.5 points. The over/under line is sitting at 221.5 points, and the Pacers are -238 on the money line compared to the Bucks at +193. ESPN is carrying the game on TV.
Check out BetCoco for Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks odds
Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The last five times that the Pacers have hosted the Bucks, they have an above .500 record at 3-2. Looking back over the previous three times that the Bucks and Pacers have faced off, they have combined to average 235 points per game and have an over/under record of 2-1.
- Across their three previous road games, Milwaukee has an ATS mark of 0-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 0-3 while averaging 102 points per game.
- Across the Pacers last three home games, the team averaged 113 points per game while allowing 115. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-2, while going 1-2 straight-up.
- In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Bucks have a straight up record of 2-3 and an ATS mark of 3-2.
- The Pacers have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction
Indiana picked up a 125-108 win over the Bucks in the most recent game of this series. The Pacers were 1-point underdogs heading into the game, and their win also marked a cover against the spread. Indiana had a big 4th quarter, outscoring the Bucks 33-25 in the final frame. The Pacers also hit 16 threes on 44.4% shooting from beyond the arc.
Pascal Siakam had a huge game for the Pacers, finishing with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. He was also 3-4 from three-point range. Myles Turner added 22 points and seven boards. On the other side, Damian Lillard had 34 points for the Bucks, who made 13 threes on 40.6% shooting from deep.
The Bucks have an O/U record of 42-42 this season, with an average over/under line of 234.1. In their games, the average combined scoring is 234.9 points per game.
This season, Milwaukee has been the underdog in 16 of their 82 games. As the underdog, their scoring margin is -9.8 points per game. Today, they are 5.5-point underdogs.
In their last game against the Pacers, the Bucks lost 125-108. The O/U line for that game was 223.5 points, and they were favored by 1 point.
Milwaukee is 36-48 against the spread this season, including a 16-24 ATS record on the road. They have failed to cover the spread in their last three road games.
In the Eastern Conference, the Bucks are currently in 3rd place with a record of 49-33. In games against other Eastern Conference teams, they are 34-18 compared to 15-15 against the West.
Offensively, the Bucks are averaging 119 points per game this season, which is the 4th best mark in the league. Despite their high-scoring average, they have been below the league average in terms of points scored in 41.5% of their games. Milwaukee is also one of the faster-paced teams in the league, averaging 99.9 possessions per game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is unlikely to play for the Bucks, and they may also be without Khris Middleton. Middleton is averaging 15.1 points per game and 38.1% shooting from beyond the arc. Over his last four games, Damian Lillard is averaging 28.5 points per game on a shooting percentage of 42.3% from the field.
On the defensive end, the Milwaukee Bucks have had a solid season, ranking 21st in the NBA in points allowed per game at 116.2. They have been even better at home, giving up 114.6 points per game, which is 18th in the league. In terms of rebounds, the Bucks are 9th in the NBA at 44.2 per game and 2nd in defensive rebounds.
One area where Milwaukee has struggled this season is in steals, as they rank 28th in the NBA at 6.8 per game. In terms of blocked shots, they are right in the middle of the pack at 16th.
When it comes to defending the three-point line, the Bucks have been solid, ranking 12th in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 35.4%. On the season, opponents have made 12.6 threes per game vs. Milwaukee.
Indiana is 26-15 at home this season and have won five straight games at home. Today, they are favored by 5.5 points and have a record of 21-23 ATS as the favorite.
In their last game against the Bucks, the Pacers won 125-108 as 1-point underdogs. The combined scoring in the game was 233 points, and the O/U line was 223.5.
This season, the Pacers have an O/U record of 44-40, with an average combined scoring of 242.9 points per game. Today’s O/U line is set at 221.5.
Indiana’s overall record this season is 47-35, which puts them 6th in the Eastern Conference. Against the East, they are 32-20 and 11-6 against Central Division opponents.
Indiana’s last game was against the Bucks, and they won by a score of 125-108. The Pacers covered the spread as 1-point underdogs, and the O/U line was 223.5.
Indiana comes into the game as the league’s top-scoring team, at 123.3 points per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 125.5 points per contest. The Pacers are also one of the league’s fastest-paced teams, averaging 101.2 possessions per game.
Pascal Siakam has shot the ball well for the Pacers of late, hitting 62.6% of his shots from the field. In these games, he averaged 27.2 points per game. Myles Turner has hit 2.6 threes per game in his last five games and 20.6 points per game. The Celtics will be without Bennedict Mathurin, who is averaging 14.5 points per game for the season.
When it comes to defense, the Indiana Pacers have struggled this season, ranking 27th in points allowed per game at 120.0. At home, they have given up 118.7 points per contest, which is also 28th in the league.
One area where the Pacers have been strong defensively is defending the three-point line. On the season, they are first in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 36.6%. In terms of made threes allowed per game, they are also first at 10.8.
Over their last five games, Indiana has given up 116.8 points per contest. During that stretch, opponents have shot 35.2% from beyond the arc.
Coming in as 5.5 point favorites, our projections have the Pacers picking up a 113-110 win.
Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Tips
- Take the Pacers on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Bucks (+5.5)
- Projecting a combined 223 points, we like the over
Indiana Pacers Injury Report
- Bennedict Mathurin – Shoulder – Out
Milwaukee Bucks Injury Report
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – Calf – Doubtful
- Khris Middleton – Ankle – Questionable
- Chris Livingston – Illness – Doubtful
