Bucks vs Pacers Odds, Lines and Picks
- The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday, October, 25th
- Milwaukee is 2-1 after a win over the Spurs, while the Pacers are 1-2
- Read below for the latest odds, betting preview and a prediction
The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are heading to Indianapolis to take on the Indiana Pacers on Monday, October, 25th. Milwaukee is favored for the matchup after winning two of their first three games this season.
Indiana is 1-2, though their two losses were by a single point and their win was an overtime effort against the Miami Heat. Rick Carlisle was expected to make an impact on this Pacers team and he has done so immediately.
The Bucks saw off the Nets on opening night before a surprising blowout at the hands of the Heat. They got the better of San Antonio on Saturday to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Bucks vs Pacers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | -3.0 (-110) | -150 | Ov 229.0 (-105) |
| Indiana Pacers | +3.0 (-110) | +130 | Un 229.0 (-115) |
Odds as of Oct 24 at DraftKings
Key Men Missing
Indiana remains without two of its starters in Caris LeVert and TJ Warren. With two wings missing, Chris Duarte has enjoyed a sparkling start to his NBA career, while Justin Holiday, Torrey Craig and Jeremy Lamb have also produced solid minutes.
The Bucks are without four rotation players. Brook Lopez (back) is listed as out. Donte DiVincenzo (foot) is a fair distance from returning to NBA action. Bobby Portis and Semi Ojeleye missed Saturday’s win against San Antonio and it seems unlikely they will be available for Monday’s contest.
Chris Duarte’s start to the season:
27 PTS | 5 REB | 6 3PT
15 PTS | 4 REB | 5 AST | 3 3PT
19 PTS | 5 REB | 2 3PTROTY dark horse.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 24, 2021
Amid a frontcourt shortage, Giannis Antetokounmpo played the five last time out. Thanasis Antetokounmpo is in line for significant minutes once again, and Jordan Nwora has an important role to play off the bench with Pat Connaughton likely to start.
Indy Find The Three
The Pacers have notoriously not shot the three ball much. That was bound to change under Rick Carlisle, and while we’re dealing in small samples at this stage, their shot profile is already very different. They have ranked in the bottom third of the league in the percentage of their shots from downtown in every season since 2013/14. Over 40% of their field goal attempts in 2021/22 have come from beyond the arc, good for eighth in the Association.
Pacers net rating by quarter (league rank):
1st: +25.7 (5th)
2nd: +1.9 (13th)
3rd: -61.2 (30th)
4th: +28.9 (5th)I asked Rick Carlisle what has been the struggle with third quarters on Friday. Here's his response: pic.twitter.com/yejOVGlAzg
— Tony East (@TonyREast) October 23, 2021
This is a teamwide uptick, though it has been aided by Duarte’s arrival and Domantas Sabonis shooting double as many threes per game as he did last season. While they are rarely getting to the rim (after ranking second in that category last season), the Pacers have overhauled their offense under Carlisle, and it poses a threat to the Bucks defense.
Milwaukee have been on the end of some efficient shooting from deep. Opponents have hit nearly 40% of their triples this season. Mike Budenholzer’s team continue to excel at limiting shots at the rim, but the Pacers haven’t taken a lot of shots in the restricted area anyway.
Domantas Sabonis tonight:
33 Points
15 Rebounds
68% FG
4/6 3PM pic.twitter.com/HRQIrs2GMT— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 21, 2021
Indiana’s three-point shooting is a massive factor in Monday’s game – it will be interesting to see how their offense copes against the Bucks’ smaller lineups.
Bucks vs Pacers Prediction
Losing their first two games by a combined two points and going to overtime with the Heat, it’s reasonable to expect the Pacers to be in another close game. Milwaukee’s depth has been hit hard by these injuries, and their smallball units are vulnerable to the size of the Pacers, particularly when Sabonis and Myles Turner are sharing the floor.
waking up after the first #PacersWin of the season 🙌@TJMcConnell | #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/kzDT0zYSLi
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 24, 2021
Carlisle has constructed an offense which can compete with Milwaukee, and home advantage clearly helped them out on Saturday.
Indiana is good value to cover anywhere down to 3.5.
Pick: Indiana Pacers +3.0 (-110)
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
