The Milwaukee Bucks have set season lows in points scored in each of their last two games. Will their shooting touch continue to elude them on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers or will the Bucks play the part as the league’s best offensive team?
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Indiana Pacers are on a four-game win streak after going 0-6 straight up at the start of February. The club is 6-1 SU and 4-2-1 against the spread in its last seven outings. The turnaround began with a 118-111 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Pacers’ last game before the All-Star break.
Indiana is fighting with the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers for fourth place in the East and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Pacers are just 16-14 SU away from home on the season, but they are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 away dates.
Nate McMillan’s crew isn’t blowing teams away with offensive punch. The Pacers play with the sixth slowest pace in the league and they rank 21st in points per game. To get the better of the Bucks again, they’ll need to hope Milwaukee’s shooting woes continue.
The Bucks made just seven of their 34 3-point attempts during their 16-point loss to the Miami Heat as 5-point road favourites. It was just their fourth loss since Boxing Day. They remain heavy favourites (-189) to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals and to walk away with the Larry O’Brien trophy (+225) this spring.
NBA bettors seem to think Milwaukee will bounce back on Wednesday. About 67 percent of Sports Interaction customers are backing the Bucks to cover as 11-point home favourites against Indiana.
Indiana Pacers
Victor Oladipo hasn’t found his game yet since returning from a nasty knee injury in the middle of last season. The former All-Star guard is averaging just 12 points a night while shooting 36.8 percent from the field in his 10 games back.
Even worse, the Pacers are scoring just 100.8 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor compared to 110.7 when he’s on the pine. That’s a long way of saying, it might actually help the Pacers’ chances if Oladipo can’t play because of his nagging ankle injury.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Big Two of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton did not have a good night against the Heat. The pair combined to go 10-for-34 from the field and – as mentioned – contribute to the Bucks’ lowest offensive output of the season.
Who Will Win Pacers vs. Bucks?
Line History
No odds are available yet.
Injuries
Victor Oladipo (SG)
Goga Bitadze (C)
Victor Oladipo (SG)
Myles Turner (C)
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)
Victor Oladipo (SG)
Myles Turner (C)
T.J. Warren (SF)
T.J. McConnell (PG)
T.J. Warren (SF)
Eric Bledsoe (PG)
George Hill (PG)
George Hill (PG)
George Hill (PG)
Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Eric Bledsoe (PG)
Donte DiVincenzo (SG)
Wesley Matthews (SG)
Brook Lopez (C)
Wesley Matthews (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Oladipo (SG) | Prob Thurs | Eye - 18 / 08 / 20 | 1-3 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Oladipo is dealing with a left eye contusion, but it is projected that he will play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat. |
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| Goga Bitadze (C) | Prob Fri | Knee - 13 / 08 / 20 | 2-3 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Bitadze is dealing with a sore left knee, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Heat on Friday. |
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| Victor Oladipo (SG) | Prob Tues | Ankle - 13 / 08 / 20 | 2-3 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Oladipo has soreness in his left ankle, but he is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat. |
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| Myles Turner (C) | Prob Tues | Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20 | 2-3 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Turner is bothered by a right wrist sprain, but he is projected to face the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Malcolm Brogdon (SG) | Prob Fri | Neck - 11 / 08 / 20 | 2-4 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Brogdon sat out the previous game with a sore neck, but he is likely to be in Friday's lineup versus the Heat. |
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| Victor Oladipo (SG) | Prob Wed | Ankle - 11 / 08 / 20 | 2-4 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Oladipo has a sore left ankle, but it is anticipated that he will play Wednesday against the Rockets. |
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| Myles Turner (C) | Prob Wed | Neck - 11 / 08 / 20 | 2-4 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Turner is dealing with a sore neck, but it is projected that he will suit up against the Rockets on Wednesday. |
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| T.J. Warren (SF) | Prob Tues | Foot - 11 / 08 / 20 | 2-4 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Warren is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, but he is likely to take the court for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Heat. |
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| T.J. McConnell (PG) | Prob Mon | Foot - 09 / 08 / 20 | 3-4 | 2-5 | + - |
|
McConnell has a foot injury, but he is expected to face the Heat on Monday. |
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| T.J. Warren (SF) | Prob Mon | Foot - 09 / 08 / 20 | 3-4 | 2-5 | + - |
|
Warren is dealing with a sore right foot, but he is likely to be in the lineup against the Heat on Monday. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Bledsoe (PG) | Prob Wed | Hamstring - 30 / 08 / 20 | 1-3 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Bledsoe has a strained right hamstring, but he is expected to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Heat. |
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| George Hill (PG) | Prob Mon | Finger - 30 / 08 / 20 | 1-3 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Hill is likely to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round despite a finger injury. |
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| George Hill (PG) | Prob Mon | Hamstring - 24 / 08 / 20 | 3-3 | 4-3 | + - |
|
Hill is managing a left hamstring injury but is likely to be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Magic. |
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| George Hill (PG) | Out Thurs | Rest - 13 / 08 / 20 | 5-5 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Hill will receive a day of rest and will not be available against the Grizzlies on Thursday. |
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| Ersan Ilyasova (PF) | Ques Sat | Elbow - 12 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 6-6 | + - |
|
Ilyasova is nursing a right elbow sprain, and it is uncertain if it will interfere with his status against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Eric Bledsoe (PG) | Prob Thurs | Knee - 11 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 6-6 | + - |
|
Bledsoe sat out the last game with a right knee soreness, but he is likely to be active for Thursday's battle with the Grizzlies. |
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| Donte DiVincenzo (SG) | Prob Thurs | Elbow - 11 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 6-6 | + - |
|
DiVincenzo missed the previous game due to a right elbow contusion, but it is anticipated that he will face the Grizzlies on Thursday. |
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| Wesley Matthews (SG) | Prob Tues | Groin - 11 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 6-6 | + - |
|
Matthews has a sore right adductor, but he is likely to take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Magic. |
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| Brook Lopez (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 04 / 08 / 20 | 6-9 | 9-7 | + - |
|
Lopez will receive a day of rest and will not suit up against the Nets on Tuesday. |
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| Wesley Matthews (SG) | Ques Thurs | Calf - 03 / 08 / 20 | 7-9 | 10-7 | + - |
|
Matthews missed the last game battling soreness in his right calf, and it is unknown if he will be in Thursday's lineup against the Heat. |
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Line History
No odds are available yet.
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Injuries
Victor Oladipo (SG)
Prob Thurs Eye - 18 / 08 / 20Goga Bitadze (C)
Prob Fri Knee - 13 / 08 / 20Victor Oladipo (SG)
Prob Tues Ankle - 13 / 08 / 20Myles Turner (C)
Prob Tues Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20Malcolm Brogdon (SG)
Prob Fri Neck - 11 / 08 / 20Victor Oladipo (SG)
Prob Wed Ankle - 11 / 08 / 20Myles Turner (C)
Prob Wed Neck - 11 / 08 / 20T.J. Warren (SF)
Prob Tues Foot - 11 / 08 / 20T.J. McConnell (PG)
Prob Mon Foot - 09 / 08 / 20T.J. Warren (SF)
Prob Mon Foot - 09 / 08 / 20Eric Bledsoe (PG)
Prob Wed Hamstring - 30 / 08 / 20George Hill (PG)
Prob Mon Finger - 30 / 08 / 20George Hill (PG)
Prob Mon Hamstring - 24 / 08 / 20George Hill (PG)
Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 08 / 20Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Ques Sat Elbow - 12 / 08 / 20Eric Bledsoe (PG)
Prob Thurs Knee - 11 / 08 / 20Donte DiVincenzo (SG)
Prob Thurs Elbow - 11 / 08 / 20Wesley Matthews (SG)
Prob Tues Groin - 11 / 08 / 20Brook Lopez (C)
Out Tues Rest - 04 / 08 / 20Wesley Matthews (SG)
Ques Thurs Calf - 03 / 08 / 20Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Victor Oladipo (SG) Prob Thurs Eye - 18 / 08 / 20 1-3 1-3 + - Oladipo is dealing with a left eye contusion, but it is projected that he will play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat.
Goga Bitadze (C) Prob Fri Knee - 13 / 08 / 20 2-3 1-4 + - Bitadze is dealing with a sore left knee, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Heat on Friday.
Victor Oladipo (SG) Prob Tues Ankle - 13 / 08 / 20 2-3 1-4 + - Oladipo has soreness in his left ankle, but he is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat.
Myles Turner (C) Prob Tues Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20 2-3 1-4 + - Turner is bothered by a right wrist sprain, but he is projected to face the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG) Prob Fri Neck - 11 / 08 / 20 2-4 1-5 + - Brogdon sat out the previous game with a sore neck, but he is likely to be in Friday's lineup versus the Heat.
Victor Oladipo (SG) Prob Wed Ankle - 11 / 08 / 20 2-4 1-5 + - Oladipo has a sore left ankle, but it is anticipated that he will play Wednesday against the Rockets.
Myles Turner (C) Prob Wed Neck - 11 / 08 / 20 2-4 1-5 + - Turner is dealing with a sore neck, but it is projected that he will suit up against the Rockets on Wednesday.
T.J. Warren (SF) Prob Tues Foot - 11 / 08 / 20 2-4 1-5 + - Warren is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, but he is likely to take the court for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Heat.
T.J. McConnell (PG) Prob Mon Foot - 09 / 08 / 20 3-4 2-5 + - McConnell has a foot injury, but he is expected to face the Heat on Monday.
T.J. Warren (SF) Prob Mon Foot - 09 / 08 / 20 3-4 2-5 + - Warren is dealing with a sore right foot, but he is likely to be in the lineup against the Heat on Monday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Eric Bledsoe (PG) Prob Wed Hamstring - 30 / 08 / 20 1-3 2-3 + - Bledsoe has a strained right hamstring, but he is expected to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Heat.
George Hill (PG) Prob Mon Finger - 30 / 08 / 20 1-3 2-3 + - Hill is likely to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round despite a finger injury.
George Hill (PG) Prob Mon Hamstring - 24 / 08 / 20 3-3 4-3 + - Hill is managing a left hamstring injury but is likely to be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Magic.
George Hill (PG) Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 08 / 20 5-5 6-5 + - Hill will receive a day of rest and will not be available against the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF) Ques Sat Elbow - 12 / 08 / 20 5-6 6-6 + - Ilyasova is nursing a right elbow sprain, and it is uncertain if it will interfere with his status against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Eric Bledsoe (PG) Prob Thurs Knee - 11 / 08 / 20 5-6 6-6 + - Bledsoe sat out the last game with a right knee soreness, but he is likely to be active for Thursday's battle with the Grizzlies.
Donte DiVincenzo (SG) Prob Thurs Elbow - 11 / 08 / 20 5-6 6-6 + - DiVincenzo missed the previous game due to a right elbow contusion, but it is anticipated that he will face the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Wesley Matthews (SG) Prob Tues Groin - 11 / 08 / 20 5-6 6-6 + - Matthews has a sore right adductor, but he is likely to take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Magic.
Brook Lopez (C) Out Tues Rest - 04 / 08 / 20 6-9 9-7 + - Lopez will receive a day of rest and will not suit up against the Nets on Tuesday.
Wesley Matthews (SG) Ques Thurs Calf - 03 / 08 / 20 7-9 10-7 + - Matthews missed the last game battling soreness in his right calf, and it is unknown if he will be in Thursday's lineup against the Heat.