Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks Game 3 Prediction, Playoff Odds
The Eastern Conference Finals between the Bucks and Hawks shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Sunday night tied 1-1. The Bucks are 4-point favourites on the NBA odds with a total of 224.
Bucks vs. Hawks NBA Playoff Odds
On the moneyline for Game 3, Milwaukee is -181 and Atlanta +151. Both the over and under 224 points are -110. On the updated series line, the Bucks are -455 and Hawks +300. The favoured exact result is Milwaukee in six at +180. The long shot is Atlanta in five at +1500.
This will be just the third-ever game Atlanta will host in an Eastern Conference Finals. In May 2015, the Hawks lost the first two of the East Finals vs. Cleveland on the way to being swept. Atlanta’s coach then? Current Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer.
Milwaukee was 1-1 in Atlanta during the regular season, winning 120-109 on April 15 and losing 111-104 on April 25. There were key guys out in both matchups.
Milwaukee Bucks
We expected the Bucks to win Game 2 after being upset in the opener, and they rolled in a 125-91 win. A 20-0 run in the second quarter essentially ended things. Giannis Antetokounmpo was terrific per usual with 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists. What’s hilarious is that the referees keep letting the Freak break the rules at the foul line by taking more than 10 seconds to shoot one. I promise you that will be a crowd thing in Atlanta. Every Bucks starter had a rating of at least plus-30 and none of them had to play even 30 minutes. As for this game, the Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their past seven as road favourites.NBA
Atlanta Hawks
The biggest difference between Atlanta’s Game 1 win and Game 2 loss? Trae Young. We mentioned in our preview for Game 2 that it was baffling why the Bucks didn’t double-team/trap Young more and get the ball out of his hands. They did exactly that in Game 2. Young had 48 points in the opener but was 6-for-16 for just 15 points and a minus-29 rating in Game 2. This is going to continue (i.e., may want to bet Young under points) as the Bucks will dare the rest of the Hawks to beat them. Rather amazingly, no Atlanta player scored more than Young’s 15. Although, to be fair, it was a rout and the benches emptied.
What watch here: Can Coach Nate McMillan adjust and get Young free looks? The Hawks have been tremendous at home since he took over March 1. I would take the points here, but a moneyline wager on Atlanta winning outright wouldn’t be the worst idea. The Hawks are 20-6 ATS in their past 26 at home.
MIL
ATL