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Bucks vs Nets Game 6 Odds, Lineups, Picks and Injury News

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball

Updated Jun 17, 2021 · 8:26 AM PDT

Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles up court
Milwaukee needs a win in Game 6 at home over Brooklyn to keep its season alive. (Photo by JB Autissier/Panoramic/Icon Sportswire)
  • The Milwaukee Bucks are 6-point home favorites over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 6 of their 2nd Round series on Thursday (June 17th, 8:30 pm ET)
  • Brooklyn will once again be without Kyrie Irving (ankle), but James Harden (hamstring) will play
  • See below for analysis, odds, injury news and a betting prediction

The Milwaukee Bucks have to be kicking themselves. Giannis Antetokounmpo and company blew a 17-point lead to Brooklyn in Game 5, and now trail the Nets 3-2 in their best-of-seven 2nd Round playoff series. Along the way, Milwaukee surrendered an incredible performance to Kevin Durant, and couldn’t take advantage of a Brooklyn squad playing with a hobbled James Harden, and without Kyrie Irving.

The two teams now head back to Milwaukee on Thursday (June 17th, 8:30 pm ET), for a pivotal Game 6 clash at Fiserv Forum.

Nets vs Bucks Odds – Game 6

Team Spread Moneyline at FanDuel Total
Brooklyn Nets +6.0 (-112) +194 O 220.0 (-108)
Milwaukee Bucks -6.0 (-108) -235 U 220.0 (-112)

Odds as of June 16th.

The Bucks are currently a 6-point favorite, in a game that features a total of 220. The home team has won every game so far in this series, and with Irving already ruled out for Thursday, Milwaukee will have an excellent chance to continue that trend.

The Walking Wounded Nets

Irving is still nursing a sprained ankle he suffered in Game 4, and the team is preparing for the possibility that he’ll miss the rest of the series. Harden meanwhile, will play despite clearly being limited in Game 5 due to his strained hamstring, although you’d never know it by looking at his minutes.

Harden went from being ruled out on Monday, to in the starting lineup by tip-off on Tueday, and logged an incredible 46 minutes. He could barely run, and needed a reported $100 worth of elastic therapeutic tape to keep his hamstring attached to his femur.

The 2018 MVP didn’t record his first points until the 3rd quarter, and finished with just 5 points on 10 field goal attempts, but did chip in 8 assists and 6 rebounds.

The shaky health of two members of Brooklyn’s Big 3 has prompted online sportbooks to react, as they’ve lengthened the Nets’ NBA Championship odds to +200.

As for Milwaukee, it’s status quo on the injury front. Donte DiVincenzo is done for the season with an ankle injury, but the rest of team is healthy, which should give the Bucks a big advantage in Game 6.

Nets vs Bucks Projected Starting Lineups

Nets
VS
Bucks
James Harden PG Jrue Holiday
Bruce Brown SG Khris Middleton
Joe Harris SF P.J. Tucker
Kevin Durant PF Giannis Antetokounmpo
Blake Griffin C Brook Lopez

KD Dominates Game 5

Harden wasn’t the only Nets player to log big minutes on Tuesday, as KD was on the floor for every second. He was the catalyst for Brooklyn’s comeback, delivering a performance for the ages.

He racked up 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, while also chipping in 3 steals and 2 blocks. Shockingly, Milwaukee refused to double team him, or assign Giannis to defend him, and it ultimately cost them dearly. Durant made 16 of his 23 attempts, most of which were heavily contested, and got to the free throw line 16 times.

What’s even more frustrating for the Bucks is that this epic performance comes after Milwaukee neutralized KD in Games 3 and 4. They held Durant to 20-of-53 from the field in those outings, including 4-of-16 from beyond the arc, en route to two double digit victories. Coach Bud will have to go back to the drawing board now if he wants to push this series to a seventh game.

Bet Kevin Durant to Make Over 5.5 3-Pointers BOOSTED to +450 odds at William Hill

Game 6 Verdict

Lost in the aftermath of the KD performance, is the fact that Giannis was outstanding once again (34 pts, 12 reb). Milwaukee completely dominated for the first 2 and a half quarters, before some questionable decisions and Durant’s eruption turned the tide.

With KD and Harden likely exhausted, and Harden essentially playing on one leg, the Bucks should be able to defend home court in Game 6. Bettors clearly feel that way, as the spread for this game opened up at -4.5, and has already been bet up to -6.

Milwaukee waxed Brooklyn at home in Game 4, and if the Nets fall behind big once again, Steve Nash may be incentivized to pull his stars. A potential Game 7 looms on Saturday, and Brooklyn would be wise to get Harden and Durant some rest if it looks like a winner take all scenario is unavoidable.

The Bucks were one of the league’s best home teams during the regular season, posting 26 wins and averaging over 120 points per outing, and are undefeated at Fiserv Forum in the playoffs. Bank on a big bounce back effort from Milwaukee with its season on the line.

Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -6 (-108)

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