NBA Playoffs: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 1 Preview, Odds, Prediction

The final before the finals. That is how many see the series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets. These two sides were the top favorites to win the Eastern Conference before the season started, but now, they meet at the earlier stage and one has to go. It is needless to tell what kind of a battle we expect in this mathup. Milwaukee has Giannis, arguably the most dominant player in the league, plus several sidekicks who really took a step forward this season. On the other side, the fantastic trio – Durant, Irving, Harden is terrorizing the league. So far, we haven’t seen some team resisting these guys.

Preview

Milwaukee Bucks (+145) slashed the Miami Heat in the first round, sweeping the last year’s finalists and sending a message to all other rivals. We were aware that the Heat are not at the highest possible level, but nobody expected to see them suffering such a painful exit vs. Milwaukee.

Apart from the dramatic first match that saw Khris Middleton hitting a game-winner in the overtime, the Bucks were ruthless in all other clashes. They shut down Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo was invisible, and all other Miami’s sidekicks were handled without problems.

Giannis ha s23.5 points and 15 boards per game. His scoring productivity is not as big as before, but that is only due to other players on the team, who improved their efficiency. Khris Middleton averages 21.5 points, Brook Lopez, 15.8, and Jrue Holiday, 15.3. Just to add that the former Pelican delivers 9.8 assists and contributes massively on the defensive side of the ball.

Brooklyn Nets (-165) eliminated the Boston Celtics in five games, demonstrating what kind of an amazing power they have in the team. The above-mentioned trio averages 85.2 points each night, with Durant leading the way with 32.6. Harden has 27.6, but with 10.6 assists and 7.4 rebounds, being the brain of this unit.

Kyrie switched to the shooting guard position, and it seems that he adjusted well. Uncle Drew scores 24.8 points and is organizing the game with Harden during the early stage of the match. Yet, as time goes by, he is slowly moving away from his natural point guard position.

In all but one game of the series vs. Boston, the Nets scored 119 or more points. They are a killing machine in the offense, with one guy in the lineup always pouring 35+ buckets.

Head to Head Games

Nets won the first game of the regular part of the season, but the Bucks took the next two. The lowest number of total points was 231. Also, we have to say that each team won at home.

Prediction

A high-octane game between the two sides who like to play offensive should deliver an increased number of points. It is normal to see both Milwaukee and Brooklyn dropping 120 or more onto their rivals. The Bucks played the last three games like that (and the entire post-All-Star period). Meanwhile, the Nets are smashing and bashing everyone. They solved the Celtics as if they were a mediocre team, playing around 70% of their power.

That is why the line of 239 points looks good for betting on over. The odds are -115, and that is quite good actually.

Pick: Over 239 points -115