Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Picks, Predictions, Player Props & Injuries

Apr 21, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives past Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) in the in the third quarter during game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY SportsThe Milwaukee Bucks host the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series on TuesdayThe Bucks demolished the Pacers, 109-94, on Sunday to take a 1-0 series leadSee the Pacers vs Bucks predictions, odds, and player props for Game 2 on April 23

The young Indiana Pacers (47-36, 21-21 away, 44-36-3 ATS) got a wake-up call on Sunday from veteran Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks (50-33, 32-11 home, 36-46-1 ATS), who demonstrated in no uncertain terms that playoff basketball is a different beast.

Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo missing the game with a calf injury, the Bucks ran away with a 109-94 victory in the series opener, holding the Pacers’ league-leading offense (123.3 PPG) under 100 points for just the second time all season.

Oddsmakers don’t expect a repeat in Game 2, though Milwaukee did go from slight underdog ahead of Game 1 to slight favorite in the Pacers vs Bucks Game 2 odds. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:40 pm CT/8:40 pm ET.

Pacers vs Bucks Odds for Game 2

The Bucks are listed as 1.5-point favorites for Game 2 and -120 on the moneyline. The Pacers are even-money to even the series at one game apiece. The game total has undergone the biggest shift, falling seven points from 231.5 in Game 1 to 223.5 in Game 2.

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Odds as of April 23 at Fanatics. Lock in a Fanatics Sportsbook promo code to bet on IND vs MIL Game 2 on Tuesday night. 

The Pacers/Bucks series price has already seen some big shifts. The Bucks opened as -350 favorites before oddsmakers learned the extent of Giannis’ calf injury. The Pacers were slight favorites to advance in the NBA playoff bracket before Game 1, but now the Bucks are back to being -225 chalk after taking Game 1.

Is Giannis Playing in Game 2?

Antetokounmpo is once again listed as “doubtful” to play on Tuesday night due to his calf injury, which was the same injury designation he carried ahead of Game 1. The odds would be heavily skewed in Milwaukee’s favor if sportsbooks believed there was a reasonable chance the two-time MVP was going to play.

But just like Game 1, Giannis is the only player on Milwaukee’s injury report for Game 2.

On the Pacers side, Bennedit Mathurin – who’s out for the year due to shoulder surgery – remains the only player on the injury report.

2024 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds TrackerRead More

Lillard Dominates Game 1

Back in the postseason for the first time since 2021 with the Blazers, “Dame Time” was on schedule in the series opener. Lillard scored all of his team-high 35 points in the first half as the Bucks staked themselves to an insurmountable 27-point lead at the break. Khris Middleton added 23 on 9-of-14 shooting while Patrick Beverley played his usual brand of tenacious perimeter defense. Beverley finished with five points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and two steals.

Indiana shot the ball terribly on Sunday, going just 36-of-91 (39.6%) from the field and 8-of-38 from three (21.1%). They even left points at the free-throw line, going just 14-of-21 from the stripe.

Pascal Siakam was solid in his first postseason game with the Pacers, dropping a game-high 37 points on 15-of-25 from the field along with a game-high 13 rebounds. But he was about the only Pacer who came to play. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton finished with just nine points, eight assists, and three turnovers.

Sunday’s win was just the second for the Bucks over the Pacers in six tries this year.

IND vs MIL Player Props for Game 2

NBA player props from from DraftKings on April 23. 

Lillard’s point total for Game 2 has been raised one point compared to Sunday, going from 28.5 to 29.5. On the Indiana side, Siakam’s has soared from 22.5 to 25.5 after his 37-point outburst in Game 1. His rebound total has also gone up from 8.5 to 9.5.

Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction

It was a strange sight to see the Pacers’ prolific, run-and-gun offense limited to just 94 points on Sunday, it’s lowest of the entire season. Was that an anomaly or a result of increased defensive intensity in the playoffs? I believe it was a combination of the two. The Pacers aren’t likely to shoot that poorly again, especially from three. Indiana finished the regular-season with the ninth-best three-point percentage in the NBA (37.4%), slightly ahead of the Bucks (37.3%).

Look for the Pacers to come out in Game 2 with all the intensity they lacked in the series opener on Sunday night.

IND vs MIL picks:

Pacers first quarter moneyline (-110)Siakam over 25.5 points (+102)

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