Nets vs Bucks Odds, Picks, Lineups and Injury Report
- The Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets meet on the opening night of the 2021-22 NBA season
- Just like last season’s Conference Semifinals, Brooklyn is without Kyrie Irving
- Read below for the latest odds, picks, projected lineups and injury report
The Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks tip-off on Tuesday, October, 19th for the first game of the 2021-22 NBA season. Off the back of the seven-game thriller in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Brooklyn is favored by just one point for this matchup.
Fiserv Forum will be bouncing as the Bucks enter into competitive NBA action for the first time since they clinched the title. Will the Nets be able to spoil the party with a season opening win after the ring ceremony?
Nets vs Bucks Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | -1 (-110) | -115 | Over 238 (-105) |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +1 (-110) | -105 | Under 238 (-115) |
Odds as of Oct 18 at DraftKings
Injury News
Kyrie Irving is once again the big news ahead of this game. Irving is away from the Nets indefinitely, with Sean Marks recently announcing he will not take part in any team activities until he receives a COVID-19 vaccination.
Other than Irving, Brooklyn looks to have a clean injury report, giving Steve Nash an array of rotation options.
Milwaukee is without Bobby Portis (hamstring) and Semi Ojeleye according to ESPN’s injury report. Donte DiVincenzo (foot) is still working his way back, and Rodney Hood is currently day-to-day.
Grayson Allen is expected to slot in at the two after arriving from the Grizzlies in the offseason. Jordan Nwora is in line for some minutes from the bench, and Giannis Antetokounmpo should get plenty of run at the five with Portis on the sidelines.
Nets vs Bucks Projected Lineups
| James Harden | PG | Jrue Holiday |
| Joe Harris | SG | Grayson Allen |
| Bruce Brown | SF | Khris Middleton |
| Kevin Durant | PF | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Blake Griffin | C | Brook Lopez |
Playing It Safe
This game won’t be like when these teams last met. Kevin Durant will not be playing 48 minutes. Mike Budenholzer’s cautious minutes management will return, particularly for Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, who endured a bruising playoff run and Olympic campaign.
Depth will matter as a result. The acquisition of Patty Mills is a massive boost for the Nets, and his importance only increases with Irving unavailable. James Johnson and Paul Millsap provide Nash with other bodies to throw at Antetokounmpo. Brooklyn already has a depth advantage on Milwaukee, and that’s only exaggerated by the absence of Portis and Ojeleye.
Opening night is massive. The lights are bright, and all attention is on the stars. This game has no shortage of star power, but as both clubs ease their way into the new season, it might be their lesser-celebrated teammates who make the difference in Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Conference Semifinal Memories
The Eastern Conference Semifinals are fresh in the mind. It was a series for the ages between the league’s two best teams and arguably its two greatest players in Durant and Antetokounmpo.
A lot has changed since then, of course. Milwaukee became NBA champions. Harden’s hamstring has recovered. The Nets have bolstered their roster with veterans, and the Bucks waved goodbye to P.J. Tucker, who joined the Miami Heat as a free agent. The main players are the same, and the head coaches remain, but this game is far from a replica of last postseason.
It took overtime to split them in the playoffs even with Harden brutally hobbled. Durant’s 35.4 points per game was outrageous even by his Hall-of-Fame standards. Antetokounmpo fought back from his free throw woes to lead his team to a title. Regular season and postseason basketball is fundamentally different, and particularly so in this case. This will be an intense evening, but the stakes are that much lower, and the teams are just starting their journey to the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Nets’ Game to Lose
A healthy Durant and Harden is a terrifying prospect for any opponent. The reigning champions are no different. Brooklyn has stacked its roster around them, and while they are an All-Star down, they should have a clear advantage in bench production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ10R4jkhOU
It’s possible that Giannis dominates like Game 6 of the Finals. Maybe he just overpowers the Nets as Milwaukee celebrate their first title in half a century.
Brooklyn is the best bet here, though. Milwaukee will be in no rush to get up to speed this season. Protecting their key players after a grueling few months should be their priority, and that makes it hard to see how they can beat this deep Nets team.
Pick: Brooklyn Nets Moneyline (-115)
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.
