The Bucks and Pacers are set to tip off game three of their first-round series at 5:30 PM ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The series is currently tied at 1-1, and the Pacers are favored by 5.5 points at home. The over/under line is 221.5, and the Pacers are -238 on the money line compared to the Bucks at +193. ESPN is carrying the game on TV.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS VS INDIANA PACERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Milwaukee Bucks +5.5

This game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 5:30 ET on Friday, April 26th.

WHY BET THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 113-110 in favor of the Pacers.
  • Our projections have Pascal Siakam finishing with Pascal Siakam points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
  • From the field, we have the Pacers finishing with a field goal percentage of 51.6% and knocking down 13 threes.

Indiana picked up a road win in the most recent game of this Pacers vs. Bucks series, winning by a score of 125-108. The Pacers were underdogs heading into the game, as they were getting one point. Indiana’s win also gave them a cover against the spread. Going into the game, the over/under line was at 223.5 points, and the Pacers and Bucks combined for 233 points.

The Pacers held the Bucks to just 40.6% shooting from three-point range, which was below their season average. However, Milwaukee did hit 13 threes, which was right at their season average. Damian Lillard led all scorers with 34 points and knocked down six threes. Pascal Siakam scored 37 points for the Pacers, and Myles Turner added 22 points.

Does Milwaukee Have What it Takes on the Road?

In terms of their ATS record, the Bucks have gone 36-48 this season, including a 16-24 ATS record on the road. They have failed to cover the spread in their last three road games.

This season, the Bucks have been favored in 68 of their 82 games and have a record of 45-23 as the favorite. As the underdog, they are 5-11 straight-up and 7-9 ATS.

On the road, the Bucks have an average scoring differential of -1.3 points per game. Today’s O/U line is set at 221.5, and their road games have averaged 234.9 points per game this season.

Milwaukee’s last game was also against the Pacers, and they lost by a score of 125-108. The Bucks were favored by 1 point in that game and went into the game with an ATS record of 20-24 at home.

For the season, the Bucks have an O/U record of 42-42, and their games have averaged 234.1 points per game. In their last game, the over/under line was 223.5 points, and the teams combined for 233 points.

The Bucks are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a record of 49-33. Against the Eastern Conference, they are 34-18 and 10-7 against Central Division opponents.

Milwaukee comes into the game as one of the top three-point shooting teams in the league, in terms of both three-point shooting percentage and three-pointers made per game. For the season, they have hit 37% of their looks from beyond the arc, which is 8th in the league. The Bucks are also 5th in three-pointers made, averaging 14.2 per contest. Overall, they are 7th in field goal percentage.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is unlikely to play in this game, and the Bucks are also unsure if Khris Middleton will be available. Middleton is averaging 15.1 points per game and has hit 38.1% of his threes this season. Over his last four games, Damian Lillard has averaged 28.5 points per game on a shooting percentage of 42.3% from the field.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bucks are giving up 116.2 points per game, which ranks 21st in the NBA. On the road, Milwaukee is allowing 118.0 points per game. Over their last five games, the Bucks have given up 111.2 points per game.

So far this season, opponents have scored more than their season average 64.6% of the time vs. Milwaukee. In terms of three-point shooting, opposing teams have made more threes than their season average 53.7% of the time vs. the Bucks.

On the glass, Milwaukee is 9th in the NBA in rebounds per game and 2nd in defensive rebounds per game. In terms of steals, the Bucks are 28th in the league at 6.8 per game. They are also 16th in blocked shots and 10th in personal fouls.

Will Indiana Find a Way to Win at Home?

Indiana is looking to continue their strong play at home today when they face the Bucks. Currently, the Pacers are 26-15 at home and have won five straight games at home. Overall, they are favored by 5.5 points.

In their last game, the Pacers defeated the Bucks by a score of 125-108. They were also able to cover the spread as 1-point underdogs. This improved their record to 47-35 for the season, which is 6th in the Eastern Conference.

This season, the Pacers have an average scoring differential of +6.8 points per game at home. Against the spread, they are 22-18 at home and 24-14 as the favorite. Today’s O/U line of 221.5 is lower than their season average of 240.9.

Indiana has a record of 44-40 on the over/under this season. Out of their 82 games, 83 have had higher O/U lines than 221.5. In their last game vs. Milwaukee, the teams combined for 233 points, surpassing the O/U line of 223.5.

Indiana comes into the game as the NBA’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 among the league leaders in pace, averaging 101.2 possessions per game.

Pascal Siakam has averaged 27.2 points per game in his last five games, while hitting 62.6% of his shots from the field. Over this stretch, Myles Turner has hit 2.6 threes per game and 55.7% of his shots, leading to an average of 20.6 points per game. The Celtics will be without Bennedict Mathurin, who is averaging 14.5 points per game and 37.4% shooting from beyond the arc.

Coming into tonight’s game, the Indiana Pacers are 27th in the NBA in points allowed per game at 120.0. They are 28th in points allowed per game at home, giving up 118.7 points per contest. In their last five games, the Pacers have been slightly better on defense, allowing 116.8 points per game.

So far this season, opponents have made just 36.6% of their three-point attempts against the Pacers, which leads the NBA. However, they have struggled to keep opponents off the free-throw line, allowing 25.8 made free-throws per game, which is 30th in the league.

On the glass, Indiana is 28th in the NBA in rebounds per game and 28th in defensive rebounds per contest. They are also 8th in the league in blocked shots per game.