The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers meet in Game 6 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference, 1st-round series Thursday. The Pacers lead the series 3-2. Tip-off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Bucks vs. Pacers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Bucks covered as 5.5-point underdogs in a 115-92 win over the Pacers in Game 5 Tuesday with the Under (218) cashing in Milwaukee. F Khris Middleton and F Bobby Portis each had 29 points for the Bucks, who avoided elimination despite injuries to F Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and G Damian Lillard (Achilles).
G Tyrese Haliburton had a team-high 16 points for Indiana, which had its lowest scoring output of the season.
Milwaukee has covered in 3 of 5 the games in this series, and the Over has gone 3-2.
Bucks at Pacers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:14 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bucks +275 (bet $100 to win $275) | Pacers -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks +8.5 (-110) | Pacers -8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 213.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Bucks at Pacers key injuries
Bucks
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) doubtful
- G Patrick Beverley (oblique) probable
- G Damian Lillard (Achilles) doubtful
- F Khris Middleton (ankle) probable
Pacers
- G Tyrese Haliburton (back) questionable
- G Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Bucks at Pacers picks and predictions
Prediction
Pacers 120, Bucks 100
Moneyline
The Pacers (-350) are the healthier team and return home after an embarrassing loss. This is a great spot for Indiana, but it’s hard to beat the NBA betting into -350 moneylines.
PASS. Bet the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
While I like the Pacers laying the points, the 1st-half spread is a more pure number. Instead of laying 8.5 full game and potentially getting backdoored in garbage time, let’s lay 4.5 in the 1st half knowing that Indiana will come out fully focused after dropping the ball in Milwaukee.
The Pacers had a chance to eliminate Milwaukee without its 2 star players Tuesday, and instead, they had their worst offensive showing of the season. Indiana’s offense should look much better right out of the gate Thursday, especially in front of its home crowd.
BET PACERS 1ST HALF -4.5 (-115).
Over/Under
While I lean Over, the full-game total is tough because it’s unlikely that Milwaukee will score 105 or more points. However, what we do know is that Indiana’s offense should look much better after its worst scoring output of the season.
While we could play Indiana’s team total full game, the 1st half is safer because we don’t run the risk of starters getting sat in a blowout.
BET PACERS TOTAL POINTS 1ST HALF OVER 57.5 (-110).
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