Update: Antetokounmpo and Lillard have officially been ruled out. Beverley and Middleton are officially in. Haliburton is in for the Pacers. Indiana is now a 5-point favorite and remains the ATS pick. The total comes in at 217 and I still like the over.
The first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs will continue on Tuesday and the slate will conclude with the No. 6 Indiana Pacers visiting the No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks for Game 5 of their best-of-seven series. Tipoff for this Eastern Conference showdown is set for 9:30 p.m. ET and the game will air on TNT.
Indiana enters this game up 3-1 and will have an opportunity to close out a Milwaukee team that has been severely impacted by injuries to stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The Pacers were able to take advantage of this in a 126-113 victory in Game 4 on Sunday, a bout where they buried the Bucks with a franchise playoff record 22 threes.
Antetokounmpo and Lillard remain doubtful to suit up for Game 5. Patrick Beverley and Khris Middleton are listed as probable. Tyrese Haliburton is questionable with back spasms, which he played through in Game 4.
The Pacers are 4-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook with the total set at 216. Indiana is -180 on the moneyline while Milwaukee is +150.
Pacers vs. Bucks, 9:30 p.m. ET
Pick ATS: Pacers -4
The Bucks have an impressive home record on the season but they are equally abysmal when both Antetokounmpo and Lillard sit. Milwaukee has been able to keep games close as their stars recover from injuries so there’s a chance this team can salvage something at home in Game 5, though it’s hard to see that with the way Indiana is playing. The Pacers have found their rhythm offensively after a lackluster showing in Game 1, highlighted by a barrage of triples in Game 4.
Middleton has been on point over the last two games and if he can get enough from the likes of Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, the Bucks should stay in this game. However, I don’t think they have enough to avoid elimination with the way Indiana is playing. The Pacers should close this out Tuesday night.
Over/Under: Over 216
Game 1 went under this total but that was largely due to Indiana’s horrendous offensive showing. The Pacers have topped 120 points in each of the following three games, which has led to the over hitting. Even as the scene shifts to Milwaukee where the Bucks have been solid defensively, Antetokounmpo and Lillard being out is impossible to ignore. I’ll take the over hitting as Indiana’s offense has been clicking.