Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Monday’s matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers.
Myles Turner returns to Indianapolis on Monday night as the Indiana Pacers host the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The big man was instrumental in the Pacers’ run to the NBA Finals, a postseason push that included dispatching the Bucks in just five games during the first round. But after Indiana fell short to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Turner said he felt “blindsided” by Indiana’s underwhelming contract offer. He proceeded to sign a four-year, $108.9 million deal with the Pacers’ fiercest rival.
The Pacers and Bucks are both very different from the teams that met just five months ago. Not only is Turner gone, but Indiana has been reeling since star guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the Finals. The Pacers just picked up their first win of the season after opening 0-5.
The Bucks, meanwhile, have started strong at 4-2, riding the hot hand of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The perennial MVP candidate missed Thursday’s game with a knee injury but returned to action in Saturday’s loss against the Sacramento Kings and is listed as probable for Monday’s matchup.
Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. Milwaukee enters as a 6.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Indiana listed as a +185 underdog. The total is set at 235.5 points.
Bucks vs. Pacers Preview
Haliburton’s Achilles tear seemingly triggered an avalanche of injuries that ravaged the Pacers’ lineup. Heading into Monday, T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Kam Jones (back), Bennedict Mathurin (toe), Obi Toppin (foot), and Andrew Nembhard are all listed as out, while Johnny Furphy (foot) and RayJ Dennis (back) are considered day-to-day.
Indiana has understandably struggled to replace the production sitting on the sidelines. Pascal Siakam has shouldered much of the load, leading the team with 25 points, nine rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Still, the Pacers rank 29th in offensive rating, shooting just 40.2% from the field and 31% from three — both worst in the league.
The Pacers’ defense has been middling at best, but they do lead the NBA with 49.3 rebounds per game, including 14.3 on the offensive end — fourth-best in the league. Still, given their offensive inefficiency, it’s no surprise that Indiana also allows the most rebounds in the league (50.5).
For the Bucks, Giannis has continued to do Giannis things. The two-time MVP leads the NBA with 34.2 points per game, while also pacing Milwaukee with 13.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists a night. The “Greek Freak” is shooting a career-high 68.4% from the floor and an eye-popping 62.5% from downtown (5-for-8).
It’s not shocking that Antetokounmpo continues to dominate on a nightly basis, but his supporting cast has been a pleasant surprise. For the first time since the 2017-18 season, Antetokounmpo doesn’t have a single All-Star teammate — yet the Bucks rank fourth in offensive rating and seventh in net rating. Bolstered by strong contributions from Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent Jr., and AJ Green, Milwaukee leads the NBA in field-goal percentage (52.5%) and sits third in three-point shooting (40.6%).
Bucks vs. Pacers Pick, Best Bet
This matchup between Western Conference rivals has been lopsided in recent memory. The Thunder swept the four-game series against New Orleans last season, punctuating a ten-game winning streak. Considering the trajectories that both teams are on this season, it’s hard to see the trend changing on Sunday afternoon.
Best Bet: Milwaukee Bucks -6.5 Points (-105)
