Bucks vs Pacers Odds, Lines & Picks (March 29)
By Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball
Published:
- Milwaukee is laying 11 points in the Bucks vs Pacers odds on Wednesday
- Tyrese Haliburton (ankle/elbow) will sit for Indiana
- Get the latest Bucks vs Pacers odds here, plus injury updates and best bets
Wednesday’s Bucks vs Pacers injury report reads like a novel. The most prominent players on both sides are featured, with Indiana’s ailments being the far more significant of the two.
Online sportsbooks believe Milwaukee is going to cruise to victory as a result, as they are a massive favorite in the NBA odds.
Bucks vs Pistons Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | -11 (-110) | -660 | OFF |
| Indiana Pacers | +11 (-110) | +490 | OFF |
The Bucks are currently favored by 11 points, in a contest without a total as of Tuesday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm ET at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis, IN, and will mark the fourth and final meeting between these two squads this season.
Odds as of March 28 at DraftKings Sportsbook.Â
Bucks vs Pacers Injury Report
Here’s what we know. Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton is out. The official diagnosis is an ankle and elbow injury, forcing him to miss his second straight game. Haliburton has sat out 20 games so far this season, and the results have been disastrous.
Indiana is 5-15 without him, most recently losing by 23 points at home to Dallas on Monday. Haliburton has sat out all three previous meetings versus Milwaukee, with the Pacers posting a 1-2 mark.
Tyrese Haliburton already listed as out for tomorrow's game against the Bucks. Chris Duarte also out. Myles Turner questionable. Buddy Hield not on the list after missing Monday's game.
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) March 28, 2023
Elsewhere on the Pacers injury front, second leading scorer Myles Turner is listed questionable with back issues, while Chris Duarte is out due to an ankle injury.
As for Milwaukee, the list is even longer. The good news is that Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is probable. Giannis sat out the Bucks win on Monday over Detroit, after being downgraded from his probable status earlier in the day.
Jrue Holiday (personal) missed the contest as well, but he’s also expected to return for the Bucks. Khris Middleton, fresh off a 34 point outburst is listed as day-to-day, as is Goran Dragic (knee) and Joe Ingles (knee). The news isn’t as good for Meyers Leonard and Jae Crowder, as they’ll both sit out with calf injuries.
Bucks vs Pacers Betting Trends
Milwaukee began Tuesday with a two game lead atop the East in the NBA playoff bracket. They’ve already clinched their spot in the postseason, and can all but guarantee themselves the top seed if they beat Indiana on Wednesday and Boston on Thursday.
The Bucks have been on fire since mid January, posting a 27-5 record. They rank second in defensive rating, and after a slow start offensively, they have the sixth best offensive rating since the All-Star Break.
Antetokounmpo is averaging a career high 31 points per game, and is the third leading contender in the NBA MVP odds. Jrue Holiday has been his usual steady self averaging 19 points and 7 assists, but the emergence of Middleton is going to be key for Milwaukee to make a deep playoff run.
https://twitter.com/TheNBACantrel/status/1638654951579848705
In nine March games, Middleton is averaging 21 points, 7 assists and 5 boards, while shooting 48% from the field. If he keeps up that kind of production the Bucks are going to be tough to beat, as not too many teams can get that much firepower from three different players.
Indiana meanwhile, is three and a half games out of a Play-In Tournament berth and fading fast. The Pacers have dropped three in a row and five of six, losing by at least 13 points in four of those five defeats.
Bucks vs Pacers Predictions
Lopsided losses have been especially common with Haliburton out of the lineup. In the last 10 games he’s missed, the Pacers have been dropped by double-digits six times. Dallas, Milwaukee and Philadelphia all handled them with ease, but so did bottom feeders Detroit and San Antonio.
NBA Top-5 ATS Records
| Team | ATS Record |
|---|---|
| OKC Thunder | 43-29-3 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 41-29-5 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 43-31-1 |
| Orlando Magic | 43-32-1 |
| Utah Jazz | 41-32-2 |
Indiana is not exactly tanking, but they’re getting awfully close to throwing in the towel. They’ve failed to cover in five of their past six outings, including twice as double-digit underdogs in the last five days. There’s nothing really left to play for, which is why someone like Haliburton isn’t rushing back into the lineup.
That’s not the case for Milwaukee, who’ll be looking to cement their status atop the East. The Bucks have won by 28 points or more twice in their past four contests, and own the second best cover rate in the NBA. They’ve already beaten the Pacers twice this season by double-digits, and Wednesday will mark the third time.
Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -11 (-110)
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
