NBA Betting Picks, Odds, And Preview: Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers

The Milwaukee Bucks were held to their lowest scoring output of the season during Monday's loss to the Miami Heat on the road. As it was just their ninth defeat in 61 games, the Bucks will try to avoid reaching the double-digit loss mark when they head back to Wisconsin on Wednesday and host the Indiana Pacers. Despite the strange loss, Milwaukee remains as the No. 1 team in the NBA and has already secured a playoff spot - the fastest in 15 years - thanks to the Bulls beating the Wizards on Sunday that also puts them at the best position to finish the regular season with at least 70 wins.

Milwaukee Bucks

Erik Spoelstra's defensive ploy has bitten the NBA's best team and the Heat has to be given much of the credit. But the Bucks' own offensive struggles were also evident during Monday's loss in South Beach as they shot a dismal 7-of-34 from deep and only managed to score a total of 37 points in the second half where the Heat pulled away for good. It was actually their second straight game where they posted a below-average scoring output. In Sunday's win over the Hornets, the Bucks just finished with 93 points - the first time they failed to hit the century mark. Wednesday's battle against the Pacers will just be a quick stop at home before hitting the road again starting Friday where they will face the Los Angeles Lakers in a potential Finals preview.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers slipped past the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, 116-111, to push their winning streak to four. They might be tagged as heavy underdogs inside the Bucks' homecourt on Wednesday, but the Pacers are unfazed. Besides, they hold the bragging rights as being one of the nine teams who dealt Giannis Antetokounmpo and his crew a rare defeat. The upset happened on Feb. 12 in Indiana as the Pacers frustrated the Bucks down the stretch to pull off a 118-111 win. Nate McMillan and his boys are silently making a strong push as the regular season winds down, eclipsing a shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers for the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference while being just two games behind the Heat at No. 4

Odds and Trends

The Bucks are 11-point favorites at home over the Pacers. The total points projection is set at 222.

The Pacers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game and 12-3-1 in their last 16 Wednesday games.

The Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite and 9-2 in their last 11 games following a straight-up loss of more than 10 points.

Over is 6-2 in Pacers last 8 games as an underdog.

Under is 5-1 in Pacers last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 4-0 in Bucks last 4 overall.

Prediction

Bucks win, 109-104.