Update: Antetokounmpo is out, per Adrian Wojnarowski. Lillard is in. Haliburton, as expected, is available for the Pacers. Indiana is still a 5.5-point favorite while the total comes in at 217. I still like the Bucks as the ATS pick and the over on the total.
Update: Both Antetokounmpo and Lillard are considered game-time calls, with head coach Doc Rivers saying the point guard is more likely to play than the forward. According to Chris Haynes, Lillard will make his return to the floor tonight.
Update: As expected, there’s some movement on the Bucks injury front. However, it’s Lillard who has been upgraded to questionable rather than Antetokounmpo. Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting both players are pushing to suit up, but it seems like Lillard is more likely to do so at this moment. The line has shifted in a big way and now stands at Pacers -5.5, while the total comes in at 216.5. I’ll wait to give updated picks once the statuses of both Antetokounmpo and Lillard are official but it seems like the Bucks stars are trending in the right direction.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers will continue their first-round series in the 2024 NBA Playoffs Thursday with Game 6 from Indianapolis. The Bucks will attempt to force a Game 7 back in Milwaukee, while the Pacers hope to close out the series after failing to do so in the last contest.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard remain doubtful for the Bucks in Game 6, although it feels like Antetokounmpo could be a late upgrade. The Bucks initially hoped he could be back by the end of the series, which Game 6 would certainly qualify as. Khris Middleton and Patrick Beverley are probable. For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton is officially listed as questionable with back spasms but is expected to play.
The Pacers are 8-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook with the total set at 214.5. Indiana is -325 on the moneyline while Milwaukee is +260.
Bucks vs. Pacers, 6:30 p.m. ET
Pick ATS: Bucks +8
The Bucks delivered a gutsy performance at home in Game 5 without Antetokounmpo and Lillard, gutting out a 115-92 win behind strong showings from Middleton and Bobby Portis. The Pacers were unable to get their offense going after big scoring efforts in Games 3 and 4 at home. It’ll be imperative for them to return to that form to close out the series.
Milwaukee has been excellent at home all season but its road record is much more average. Meanwhile, Indiana has been formidable at home. Although the Bucks have confidence after grabbing a win with Antetokounmpo and Lillard out, I don’t know that it’ll be enough to stave off elimination. However, I’ll leave a bit of room for the possibility Antetokounmpo does get upgraded and take Milwaukee to cover.
Over/Under: Over 214.5
Three of the five games in this series have gone over this line, including both contests in Indiana. Game 3 got over this line thanks to overtime, but this shift is largely due to the Pacers being much better offensively in their own gym. Indiana put up 123.5 points per game at home, which is a 20-point improvement from its three road games in the series. Milwaukee wasn’t too shabby offensively in Games 3 and 4, averaging 115.5 points per game. I like the over to hit as the series returns to Indianapolis.