Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns Game 1 Prediction, Playoff Odds
The NBA Finals are set. With the big name franchises long gone, it’s the Milwaukee Bucks heading to Phoenix to face the Suns in Game 1 on Tuesday, after both teams finished their Conference Championship series’ in six games. The Bucks haven’t made an appearance in the NBA Finals since 1974 and haven’t won an NBA Championship since 1971. Phoenix is looking to win their first NBA Championship in their first Finals’ since 1993.
The Suns are 6-point favourites to win Game 1 on the NBA odds, with a total of 217.
Bucks vs. Suns NBA Playoff Odds
There’s not much recent history between these teams to go on, although both games they did end up playing against each other this season were incredibly competitive and decided by a single point. Phoenix won 125-124 at home on Feb. 10 and again on April 19 in Milwaukee, 128-127 in overtime. Both games hit the Over.
Milwaukee has struggled against Phoenix, dropping five of their last six games against the Suns. They’re 1-6 against the spread in their last seven against the Suns. Giannis Antetokounmpo, however, was the best player on either team both times these teams met in 2021. Antetokounmpo had a game-high 47 points in the February game and a game-high 33 points in the April game. The Bucks are +150 series underdogs.
The Suns must be confident coming into this game. They’re 11-2 straight up in their last 13 games overall and 17-3 SU in their last 20 home games. They’ve also been a good cover option, going 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games. Devin Booker led Phoenix in both regular season games against Milwaukee. Booker had a team-high 30 points in February and 24 points in April. The Bucks are favoured at -175 to win the series.
Milwaukee Bucks
Easily the biggest factor that could affect this series is the health of Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak hyperextended his knee in the Eastern Conference Finals and missed Game’s 5 and 6. It was reported that he would have played if there had been a Game 7, but he’s clearly not at 100 per cent. Antetokounmpo is arguably the single most relied upon player on his respective team in the NBA and the Bucks are just 8-5 without him in the lineup this year. He’s been Milwaukee’s best player in the playoffs, averaging 28.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Antetokounmpo put up those numbers on 55.1 per cent shooting from the field.
With Antetokounmpo hurting, Khris Middleton will need to shoulder a lot of the offence. Playing without Antetokounmpo, Middleton finished two assists shy of a triple-double in Game 5 against Atlanta. He led the Bucks in the closeout Game 6 with a game-high 32 points. There’s still a lot up in the air with the uncertainty of Antetokounmpo’s injury, so you’ve got to be at least a little nervous if you’re a Milwaukee fan right now.
Phoenix Suns
Booker is making a name for himself in his first NBA postseason. He’s delivered in big moments and he leads Phoenix with 27 points per game, while also averaging 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Booker is shooting 44.4 per cent from the field and 34.4 per cent from the 3-point line. A broken nose hasn’t slowed him down and he’s been his most effective in the biggest games. Booker averaged 34.3 points in the Suns’ three closeout games against the Lakers, Nuggets and Clippers.
Chris Paul is obviously another player to watch. This might be the last real chance this veteran has to win, so he’ll be at his best. In his 16-year career, his 41-point barrage against the Clippers in Game 6 might go down as the best game he’s ever played. Paul will likely get matched up against Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday, who is one of the best defenders in the NBA. How that matchup plays out will be crucial for both teams.
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