NBA Betting Preview: Bucks vs. Pacers, April 6, 2017

  • April 5, 2017

by Jim Feist

The Milwaukee Bucks head to Indiana for an Eastern Conference tit on Thursday, April 6, 2017.  Milwaukee is the #5 seed in the East but has competition on its tail, while Indiana is battling for the final seed in the East. Indiana is a -4.5-point home favorite and Vegas has seen the total dip from 202 to 201.

 

#5 Seed Milwaukee Bucks (40-38; 18-20 Away):   21-10 over the total after a loss of 10+ points.

  • The Bucks are trying to earn the No. 5 spot in the East but are riding a two-game skid, including a crunching 110-79 loss at Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
  • Milwaukee is only a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and two up on the Chicago Bulls in the East. The Bucks will play three of their final four games on the road.
  • Milwaukee can play tough defense, #10 in the NBA in points allowed, on a 15-7 run under the total.  The offense is #20 in points scored, #19 in free throw shooting.
  • The Bucks are 11-5 ATS when their opponent scores 100+ points in their previous game.

(Jim Feist is on a 63-32 NBA run.  NBA Inner Circle cashes Thursday: Click: FastFactsToday)

Indiana Pacers (38-40; 27-12 at home).   Tight race with Miami for the last playoff slot

  • #16 in the NBA in points scored, #15 in points allowed, #9 in field goal defense.
  • The uneven Pacers are off a big win over Toronto to hold on to the final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. But that ended a 4-game losing streak, 2-6 SU the last 8 contests.
  •  The Pacers will try to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since early February.   Indiana  overcame a 19-point deficit to beat Toronto, 108-90. They are tied with the Miami Heat for the last playoff spot. 
  • Star Paul George is averaging 33 points and shooting 44.9 percent from three-point range over the last five games.  Indiana is on an 8-2 run over the total, but  11-5 under vs. the East.

Head-to-head match-up:  Milwaukee took the first three meetings this season, going for the sweep. The road team is 9-4 ATS, and the Bucks 5-1 ATS at Indiana.

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