The NBA’s top scoring team will be on the road at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, when the Milwaukee Bucks (18-8) meet the Indiana Pacers (17-10). The game starts at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, and will air on Fox Sports Net Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers ATS Odds
Both teams covered as favorites in their last contest. The Pacers (6-point favorites) defeated the Washington Wizards 109-101, while the Bucks (10-point favorites) beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-92. The Indiana game finished 6 points under the projected point total of 216, while the Milwaukee game went 17 points under the projected point total of 217.
The Bucks held the Cavaliers to an offensive rebounding percentage of 14.8 (below their season average of 26.8) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.427 (below their season average of 0.498). The Pacers, meanwhile, held the Wizards to an offensive rebounding percentage of 12.2 (below their season average of 20.1) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.605 (above their season average of 0.529). Indiana’s Myles Turner had a solid performance, finishing with 26 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. Milwaukee was led by Eric Bledsoe, who contributed 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
In their first matchup this season, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 118-101 victory. He recorded a double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds. The two teams combined to put up 219 points, which was just over the projected point total of 217, and Milwaukee covered as a 4-point favorite. The Bucks’ 25.6 offensive rebounding percentage was their biggest strength over the Pacers, who had a mark of 18.8.
Oddsmakers are known to place the total low when the Bucks are involved, as 15 of their 26 games have gone over the total. Milwaukee holds records of 18-8 straight up (SU) and 14-12 against the spread (ATS).
Contrary to Milwaukee, Pacers games tend to go under the total (63.0 percent). Further, Indiana owns records of 17-10 SU and 13-13-1 ATS.
Turner and Bojan Bogdanovic have played at a high level over the last five games for Indiana. Turner has averaged 11 points,9.6 rebounds,2.8 blocks, while Bogdanovic has recorded 20 points a game during that span.
Indiana might have difficulty finding the bottom of the net as they square off against one of the league’s best defenses. Milwaukee ranks fourth in defensive efficiency while the Pacers rank 21st in offensive efficiency. It will also be a matchup of conflicting styles as the aggressively-paced Bucks rank third in possessions per game, while the more half-court oriented Pacers rank 26th.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – Pacers, ATS Winner – Pacers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Pacers rank 11 in assists per game (24.666666666666668) while the Bucks rank 20 in assists allowed per game (24.115384615384617).
- Milwaukee ranks second in three pointers attempted per game (40.3) while Indiana ranks 28th (24.9).
- The Bucks average 5.7 blocks per game, which ranks eighth in the NBA. The Pacers rank 24th in blocks allowed per game (5.7).
- Indiana ranks fourth in steals per game (9.2) while Milwaukee ranks 19th (7.2).
- Milwaukee ranks 3 in points in the paint per game (54.92307692307692) while Indiana ranks 13 (48.22222222222222).
- The Bucks rank first in fast break points allowed per game (9.0) while the Pacers rank 22nd (14.7).
- The Pacers rank 3 in points off turnovers per game (19.59259259259259) while the Bucks rank 14 (17.192307692307693).
- Milwaukee leads the NBA with 10.923076923076923 second chance points allowed per game while Indiana is 2 with 11.074074074074074 second chance points allowed per game.
- Milwaukee ranks first in rebounds per game (50.5) while Indiana ranks 22nd (43.3).
- When allowing under 100 points, Indiana is 9-1 and Milwaukee is 6-0.
- When scoring more than 100 points, the Bucks are 18-7 and the Pacers are 14-5.
- Indiana is 7-6 ATS at home, while Milwaukee is 4-6 ATS on the road.
- Of the Bucks’ 10 road games, they have 6 overs and 4 unders.
- The Pacers have 10 unders and 3 overs in 13 home games.
Bettings Trends:
- In their last five games, Milwaukee and Indiana are both 3-2 ATS.
- The Bucks have 4 unders and 1 over over their last five games, while the Pacers have 5 unders
- During their last five games, the Bucks have scored an average of 111.2 points per game (7.7 below their season average) and allowed an average of 104.8 points per game (4.3 below their season average).
- The Pacers\u2019 average margin of victory in their last five games has been 9.0, up from 4.7 for the season.
