The Pacers host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, May 2. Today’s game is set for 6:30 ET and will be shown on TNT. Indiana comes into this game as 8.5-point favorites with the total set at 214. Keep reading to get our Pacers vs. Bucks predictions.
Pacers vs. Bucks Odds
- Spread: Pacers -8.5
- Total 214
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Game Info
- Date: Thursday, May 2
- Time: 6:30 ET
- Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis IN
- TV: TNT
Bucks Betting Trends
- Over their last five games, the Bucks have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.
- When looking at their past three road matchups, Milwaukee has an ATS record of 1-2 while averaging 106 per game. The team went 0-3 overall in these games.
- As the betting underdog, the Bucks have an ATS mark of just 6-4 in their last ten games. Milwaukee posted a straight up mark of 4-6 in these matchups.
Pacers Betting Trends
- In their last five games, the Pacers have an over/under record of 5-0 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.
- Although Indiana has a straight up record of 1-2 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 1-2. The team averaged 103 points per game in these games.
- The last ten games that Indiana was favored, they have an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 7-3 straight up.
The Bucks picked up a 23-point win in the most recent game of this series, taking down the Pacers 115-92. Milwaukee was down by eight heading into the 2nd quarter but outscored the Pacers 30-17 in the 2nd to take a 57-48 lead into halftime. The Bucks were 4.5-point underdogs and easily covered the spread. The 207 combined points were 10.5 fewer than the over/under line of 217.5.
Both teams were below their season average in made threes in this game, with the Bucks hitting just 11 threes. However, Milwaukee shot 52.4% from the field, while the Pacers shot just 44.4%. Bobby Portis and Khris Middleton both had 29 points for the Bucks. Portis also had 10 rebounds, while Middleton hit four threes. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 16 points.
Can Milwaukee Grab a Win on the Road?
Milwaukee’s overall record this season is 49-33, which is good for 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. Within the Central Division, they are in 1st place.
The Bucks have gone 6-13 as the underdog this season and are 9-10 against the spread in those games. As the underdog, they have a scoring differential of -7.8 points per game.
On the road, the Bucks are 17-25 ATS compared to 21-24 ATS at home. Their straight-up road record is 18-24, and they are 2nd in the Eastern Conference.
This season, Milwaukee’s games have averaged 234.7 points per game, and today’s O/U line is set at 214. Their O/U record for the season is 44-43.
In their last game against the Pacers, the Bucks won 115-92 as 4.5-point underdogs. The game finished with a scoring total of 207, and the O/U line was set at 217.5.
This season, the Bucks are averaging 119 points per game, which is the 4th best mark in the league. They are also the 4th best scoring team on the road, at 116.6 points per contest. Looking at their pace, the Bucks are 6th in the league, averaging 99.9 possessions per game.
Khris Middleton has been playing well for the Bucks of late, averaging 26.8 points per game in his last five games. He hit 49.5% of his shots in those games. Brook Lopez is averaging 17.2 points per game in his last five games on a shooting percentage of 58.7%. Damian Lillard has hit 5.3 threes per game in his last three games and 32.3 points.
On the season, the Bucks are allowing 116.1 points per game, which is 21st in the NBA. On the road, they are giving up 118.2 points per contest, which is 22nd in the league. In terms of rebounds, Milwaukee is 9th at 44.2 boards per game.
Over their last five games, the Bucks have given up 111.6 points per game, which is 16th in the NBA during that stretch. In terms of steals, they are 27th at 6.8 thefts per contest. When it comes to blocked shots, Milwaukee is 16th at 5.0 per game.
On the season, opponents have made 35.4% of their three-point attempts vs. the Bucks. In terms of free throws made, Milwaukee is 13th at 21.3 per game allowed.
Will Indiana Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?
The Pacers are 8.5-point favorites at home today against the Bucks. This season, Indiana has gone 28-19 straight-up at home and 23-19 against the spread. Their average scoring margin at home is +6.9 points per game.
Indiana’s O/U record for the season is 46-41, and their games have averaged 240.1 points per game. Today’s line of 214 is lower than their season average of 242.4.
Looking at their ATS record, the Pacers are 46-39 overall and 23-20 vs. the spread on the road. As the favorite, they have gone 22-25 ATS and 28-19 straight-up.
Indiana is currently 6th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 47-35. In their last game, they lost to the Bucks by a score of 115-92. Indiana was favored by 4.5 points in that game, and the O/U line was 217.5, resulting in an under.
For the Pacers to pick up a win today, they will need a big game from Pascal Siakam, who is averaging 23 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in his last five games. Over his last five games, Myles Turner has hit 47.4% of his threes and averaged 3.6 made threes per game. Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 10.9 assists this season, to go along with 20.1 points. In his last five games, he has averaged 15.8 points and 9.2 assists.
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, with an average of 125.4 points per contest. The Pacers are also the league leaders in field goal percentage, at 50%. In terms of pace, Indiana is 3rd in the league.
When it comes to defending the three-point line, the Pacers have been the best in the league this season. They are giving up just 10.8 made threes per game and are 1st in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 36.5%. Overall, they are 27th in points allowed per game at 119.8.
Indiana has been able to force opponents into tough shots as they are 8th in blocked shots per game. They have also done a good job of not fouling, ranking 1st in personal fouls.
One area where the Pacers have struggled is keeping opponents off the free-throw line. They are 30th in made free-throws allowed per game at 25.6.
Pacers vs. Bucks Player Prop
When looking at a player prop for this game, Khris Middleton has a points prop of 26.5 with both the over and under paying out at -110. According to our projections, Khris Middleton is expected to record 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Regarding his points prop, we recommend taking the under at 26.5.
- The Prop: Khris Middleton Under 26.5 Points (-110)
Pacers vs. Bucks Predictions
Coming in as the underdogs at +8.5, we have the Bucks as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.
As for the over/under, the line is currently at 214, and our model projects the Bucks and Pacers to reach a combined total of 224 points. Our bet is on taking the over.
The Pick: Bucks +8.5 | at Fanduel Sportsbook