Pacers vs Bucks Odds and Picks
By Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball
Updated: February 16, 2021 at 5:32 pm ESTPublished:
- The Milwaukee Bucks are 8.5-point home favorite over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday (Feb. 3rd, 7:10 pm EST)
- Milwaukee is 5-0 against Central division opponents this season
- See below for analysis, odds and a betting prediction
When the Milwaukee Bucks are on, they’re virtually unstoppable. That was the case in their last outing, a 134-106 win over Portland, that saw the Bucks bury 21 shots from beyond the arc on their way to victory.
Now, the Central division leaders will host Indiana on Wednesday (Feb. 3rd, 7:10 pm EST), in a matchup of two of the top-five teams in the East.
Pacers vs Bucks Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers | +8.5 (-110) | +295 | Over 232 (-110) |
| Milwaukee Bucks | -8.5 (-110) | -370 | Under 232 (-110) |
Odds taken Feb. 2nd from FanDuel.
The Bucks opened up as 8.5-point favorites over the Pacers, in a game that features a total of 232. Indiana will be playing its second game in as many nights, after handling the Grizzlies by 18 on Tuesday.
Pacers Rough Up Grizzlies
Indiana racked up a season-high 134 points versus Memphis, shooting a blistering 59.8% from the field. Domantas Sabonis led the way with 32 points, while Malcom Brogdon and Myles Turner chipped in 23 and 22 points respectively.
season-best 134 points and a #PacersWin 🔥
bounced back in a big way 😤#AlwaysGame pic.twitter.com/zkalb7uggx
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 3, 2021
All five starters reached double figures, while the Pacers turned 16 Grizzlies turnovers into 29 points. Indiana won the rebounding and assist battle, while dominating in the paint. They outscored Memphis by 10 down low, and shot a ridiculous 62.2% on their two-point attempts.
They led by as many as 28 at one point, and held the Grizzlies to 45.2% from the floor and 9-of-25 from beyond the arc. Indiana ranks 14th in points allowed this season, but hasn’t let an opponent reach 120 points in any of its last seven games.
Bucks Blast Trail Blazers
Milwaukee meanwhile, snapped a two-game losing streak with its convincing win over Portland. Jrue Holliday led the way with 22 points, while Bobby Portis chipped in 21 off the bench. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points despite playing a season-low 26 minutes, and the Bucks knocked down at least 20 triples for the fourth time this season.
Everything you need to see from last night's WIN!! pic.twitter.com/aWDfSo9fc2
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 2, 2021
It was their 13th win by at least 25 points dating back to the start of last season, which leads the NBA. Milwaukee now ranks first in points per 100 possessions, second in field goal percentage, and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage.
Bobby Buckets with a massive impact off the bench with 21 points and 8 rebounds on 9/13 shooting in 24 minutes. pic.twitter.com/yZnAJArzIb
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 2, 2021
They lead the league in point differential (+8.2) and finally clamped down on enemy 3-point shooters. They held the Trail Blazers to 35.7% from beyond the arc, one game after surrendering 21 3-balls to Charlotte.
Defending the 3-ball is definitely the Bucks’ Achilles heel, as they’ve allowed seven different teams to tie or set season highs in 3-point makes. Fortunately for them, the Pacers do most of their damage inside the arc, ranking sixth in overall field goal percentage, but 20th from 3-point range.
Play the Pacers
This is a brutal spot for Indiana, having to face one of the East’s most talented teams on the second night of a back-to-back. Fortunately for them, their blowout victory over Memphis allowed them to rest their starters in the final quarter, helping to preserve some energy for this matchup.
too easy 🥱 pic.twitter.com/9uvBm5wRpM
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 3, 2021
The Pacers have actually done quite well this season on no rest, posting a 3-0 record both straight up and against the spread. Last time they were in this situation, they smoked Toronto by 15 as a short favorite, and prior to that they won by 9 at Golden State as 3.5-point ‘dogs.
Yes, the Bucks are undefeated against Central division opponents this year, but they’re only 3-2 ATS. For the season, Milwaukee is just 9-11 ATS and a dismal 3-8 versus the number following a victory.
Pick: Indiana Pacers +8.5 (-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.
