Two of the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoff contenders square off on Wednesday night when the Indiana Pacers (37-24) head to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks (52-9). The Pacers are currently in fifth place in the East standings, winners of four in a row and six of their last ten. The Bucks are in first place in the East, 15 games ahead of the Pacers and 9 ½ games ahead of the Toronto Raptors, currently in second place. The Bucks are coming in off an uncharacteristic loss, having fallen by 16 points in Miami against a Heat team that is starting to heat up a bit with about 20 games left in the regular season. Can Milwaukee start another winning streak after that disappointment? Or will Indiana make it five in a row? Be sure to read our sports betting insights on this Eastern Conference showdown before you lock in your bets. Let’s see how the NBA odds will be for the Pacers vs Bucks.
Pacers vs Bucks 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 7:00 pm ET
- Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: 1070 AM The Fan Indianapolis / WTMJ 620 AM Milwaukee
- Live Stream: fuboTV
- NBA Odds: Milwaukee Bucks -10.5 / Total 222
Why should you bet on Indiana?
The Pacers have built a nice four-game winning streak with victories over Charlotte, Portland, Cleveland and San Antonio. The win over the Spurs came down in Texas on Monday night and saw Indiana blow a 15-point lead but then rally for a 116-111 win. Malcolm Brogdon led the way with 26 points, and T.J. Warren added 23 as the team avoided a scare in one of the tougher arenas for road teams in the NBA.
The Pacers were up 84-69 with 4:30 left in the third period, when they started a rally that ended with them up 102-98 with 6:44 left in regulation. The key to the win for Indiana involved moving the game into the paint, as the Spurs were without LaMarcus Aldrdige and Jakob Poeltl, their two big men, both out with injuries. Indiana was still missing Victor Oladipo, who developed knee swelling during the morning shootaround. Oladipo remains questionable for Wednesday night’s game, so check injury reports before locking in your wagers.
Why should you put your money on Milwaukee?
Milwaukee had won six in a row before losing to the Heat down in South Beach, but the way the Bucks have been playing, even a six-game winning streak is somewhat less than what they have been accustomed to. It is hard to sustain the sort of winning percentage that will lead to a 70-win campaign, what with injuries and the mental drain of constant focus, and the Bucks appear to have run into a team that, at least on that night, was a lot hungrier.
In the loss to Miami, Giannis Antetokounmpo was held to just 13 points by a stifling Heat defense. The 89 points that Milwaukee scored was their season worst — but that record was only a day old, as they had also scored a season low the night before, in a win over Charlotte in which they just put up 93 points. From downtown against the Heat, Milwaukee went just 7 for 34, while Miami went 18 for 37. The mental grind of the season could be wearing on the Buck shooters. However, if you like the Bucks against Indiana, you see the loss waking the team up a bit as they prepare for the next contender.
Pacers vs Bucks Final Score Prediction
Milwaukee just looked tired in their last two games, both the win over the Hornets and the loss to the Heat. The loss should provide a bit of a wake-up call, and coming home should provide a shot in the arm. Indiana brings toughness inside and gritty shooting outside, but without Oladipo, it is hard to see the Pacers pulling this off on the road. I predict a final score of Milwaukee 111, Indiana 104.
