Pacers vs Bucks Game 1 Prediction & Best Bets: Can Milwaukee Manage Without Giannis?

Is it a stretch to say that the most important series opener in the first round of the NBA playoffs is in Milwaukee, where the Bucks will host the Indiana Pacers without two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (7:00 pm ET, TNT)?

Given what could occur if the Bucks exit in the first round for the second straight season, it isn’t a stretch at all.

It’s been a season of ups and downs for the Bucks, featuring a midseason firing of first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, struggles under new head coach Doc Rivers, and difficulties adjusting to life with Damian Lillard.

In the end, they missed out on the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference by losing their regular season finale in Cleveland. As a result, they dropped to the #3 seed and face a matchup with the #6 Pacers, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

And they will go into this matchup without Giannis, who will miss at least the opener—and likely more—with a calf injury. He suffered the injury in a win over the Boston Celtics on April 9 and missed the Bucks’ last three regular season games, the last two of which they lost on the road against the Thunder and Cavaliers.

It remains to be seen if Giannis will be able to play at all in the series, but if the Bucks fall, his time in Milwaukee could come to an end, with heavy speculation that the Golden State Warriors will make a serious run at him in the offseason.

So, tonight’s opener at Fiserv Forum could loom large not only for the first round but also for the future of multiple teams.

Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on today’s NBA playoff action.

Spread

• Indiana Pacers -1 (-110)
• Milwaukee Bucks +1 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 230.5 (-115)
• Under 230.5 (-105)

Moneyline

• Indiana Pacers -117
• Milwaukee Bucks -103

Get free and reliable moneyline, spread, and over/under consensus picks for every NBA matchup, including this one, from our NBA picks page.

Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction and Best Bets

Ahead of this evening’s opener, the Pacers are favored, both for the game and for the series. The latest series odds at BetOnline have Indiana as a -128 favorite with Milwaukee at +108 to win the series.

Should they be? Well, the Bucks don’t exactly head into the playoffs in the best of form, with or without Giannis. They lost eight of their last 11 regular season games, including four of six at home. On the other hand, the Pacers finished with nine wins in their final 13 games.

Given how the Bucks have performed since Rivers was hired to replace Griffin, there aren’t particularly a lot of compelling reasons to back them with Giannis out.

But if you are a Bucks fan currently in panic mode, I do have some slight reassurance to offer.

In the regular season, the Bucks went 3-1 SU at home without Giannis. The only loss in the bunch was a 117-111 loss to the Toronto Raptors on April 5. That was part of an ill-timed and ultimately costly four-game losing streak for Milwaukee.

So, they can win without Giannis, at least at home.

This certainly shapes up as a spot where the acquisition of Lillard could pay off in a big way. You can’t replace Giannis at all, but in Lillard, the Bucks have an experienced superstar who can make this stretch, however long it must last, go a lot more smoothly than it could otherwise.

Lillard didn’t put up great numbers against the Pacers in the regular season, averaging 20.3 PPG on 32.4% from the field and 26.5% from three. But I think he will step up to deliver a big home win in a game that should be high on offense and low on defense. Each of the last ten meetings between the Pacers and Bucks went over 230.5, with 250, 247, 266, 235, and 272 points being scored this season.

Pacers vs Bucks Prediction: Bucks to win

Pacers vs Bucks Best Bets: Bucks ML & Pacers/Bucks over 230.5

Other NBA Playoffs Betting Information

Where to Bet on the NBA Playoffs

Many of the top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of NBA betting odds throughout the season.

In addition to being able to bet on 2024 NBA championship odds, you can make daily NBA picks on odds for every game all season long, including NBA playoffs odds.

Also, you can bet on the All-Star Game, NBA Draft odds, and the major awards like NBA MVP, NBA Rookie of the Year, and more at most reputable sports betting sites.

There are plenty of sports betting sites you can choose from that are good for NBA betting. In addition to BetOnline, here are several books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetDSI (review)
• BetUS (review)
• Bookmaker (review)
• Bovada (review)
• MyBookie (review)
• Sportsbetting.ag (review)

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

Looking to make some player prop picks for tonight’s matchup in Milwaukee? Bovada is one of the best sports betting sites for NBA player props, as they offer a plethora of prop markets for every game on the schedule. They also have a hefty welcome bonus for cryptocurrency users (75% up to $750).

Interested in Learning More About NBA Betting?

Looking to learn more about the ins and outs of betting on the NBA? Check out our NBA betting guide. Also, if you’d like to learn more about NBA player prop bets, check out our NBA player props guide.

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BetOnline is running a $10,000 NBA playoff bracket contest, which will award $500 to the winner. Don’t miss out on your chance to cop some extra cash. Entries are open until tomorrow night (Monday, April 22) at 7:00 pm ET.