NBA: Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Indiana Pacers have bounced back after a period of bad performances, boosting their morale before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The boys from Indianapolis head for Fiserv Forum to meet the red-hot Bucks, who have six wins in a row and look super strong following the All-Star break. Milwaukee is at home and had time to prepare for the Pacers, who are coming of a tough back-to-back package against the Heat in Miami. The hosts are the favorites, but let us run over a couple of things before delivering the final pick.

Preview

Indiana Pacers (19-22, +180) defeated the Heat twice in three days at American Airlines Arena in Miami, and that you need to admit, is a big success. Especially once having in mind Indiana’s previous results, which were terrible. Though against the Heat, Bjorkgren’s boys looked like a real playoff team, not a unit that is in free fall. The second match saw the Pacers winning 109-106 after OT.

Domantas Sabonis evolved to a true superstar, and it seems that this guy will surpass his father’s achievements. The Gonzaga alumni scored 17 points with 11 boards and three blocks. Even though he shot 5-for-13 from the field, Sabonis Jr. was the focal point of Indiana’s offense.

That same offense had seven players with 12+ points – Myles Turner 16, Holiday and McDermott 15, LeVert 13, Brogdon and McConnell 12. So it was a very balanced attack against whom the Heat had a lot of troubles and didn’t know how to restrain it. What was the big difference in this event were the threes; the Pacers scored 15, and Heat just nine.

Milwaukee Bucks (27-14, -220) have 11 wins in the past 12 games, and they are looking unstoppable. It seems that Giannis finally caught the rhythm, as well as the entire Bucks’ crew, and they are all rolling just fine at the moment. Also, there is one very important fact nobody is mentioning. The Bucks are not under the media’s constant pressure anymore, with the focus shifted to 76ers and the Nets right now. And that suits them well.

The game against the Spurs was the first of a five-game homestand the Bucks expect. They would beat the guests from San Antonio 120-113, in a match that saw yet another magnificent performance of Giannis Antotekounmpo. He scored 26 points, had 8 boards, and a career-high 15 assists.

Khris Middleton dropped 23 points, Jrue Holiday had 21, while Donte DiVincenzo scored 12 with 13 rebounds.

Head to Head Matches

The Bucks hosted Indiana already once this year, defeating them 130-110. Giannis posted a triple-double with 21 buckets, 14 points, and ten rebounds, while Sabonis had 33 and 12 with six assists on the other end.

Prediction

Even though the Pacers are looking better than they did in the previous several weeks, Milwaukee is the absolute favorite, and they will win. The spread on the Bucks is -5.5, which is, in our opinion, more than realistic for them to cover. The odds on that are -110, which is a perfect chance to earn some easy money. If you want to play safer, just go with Milwaukee’s plain triumph. The profits is OK here as well.

 

Here is one more preview for tonight’s NBA games – Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks