The eyes of the basketball universe will be on Phoenix Suns Arena on Thursday evening. The Suns and Milwaukee Bucks take the floor for Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Finals, with the winner perhaps taking the upper hand in the best-of-seven series. Phoenix won Game 1 at home, with Milwaukee looking to return serve just 48 hours later with a victory of its own. Milwaukee will be without Donte DiVincenzo (ankle), with Phoenix operating without Dario Saric (knee) in Game 2.

Tip-off for Game 2 is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET at Phoenix Suns Arena. William Hill Sportsbook has set Phoenix at -4.5 in the latest Bucks vs. Suns odds. The over-under for total points is 221. Before finalizing any Suns vs. Bucks picks or NBA Finals 2021 predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's advanced computer model has to say.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned almost $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $700 on its top-rated picks this season and entered the 2021 NBA Finals on a stunning 100-66 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread dating back to last season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has locked in its Bucks vs. Suns picks and predictions for Game 2 of the NBA Finals 2021. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Suns vs. Bucks:

  • Bucks vs. Suns spread: Suns -4.5
  • Bucks vs. Suns over-under: 221 points 
  • Bucks vs. Suns money line: Suns -190, Bucks +170
  • MIL: The Bucks are 6-4 against the spread in the last 10 games 
  • PHX: The Suns are 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 games

Why the Bucks can cover

The Bucks found their 3-point shooting stroke in Game 1, even in defeat. Milwaukee made 16 of its 36 offerings from long distance, rapidly improving on a 31 percent clip from the first three rounds. Given that Milwaukee was a top-five 3-point shooting team (38.9 percent) in the regular season, that uptick is expected, but it also provides positivity about the future. On top of that, the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo allows the Bucks to attack the rim offensively and protect the rim defensively, forcing the Suns into difficult attempts. 

Phoenix was able to make them in Game 1, but Milwaukee's overall plan is analytically driven, and the Bucks have a stellar defense to fall back on. The Bucks are allowing fewer than 1.06 points per possession during the 2021 NBA playoffs, the No. 1 mark in the NBA, and they are also the top defensive rebounding team when removing squads that were eliminated in Round 1. Milwaukee is generating 7.6 steals per game in the postseason, fueling transition offense, and the Bucks should be able to garner more traction on the offensive glass than they had in Game 1. Milwaukee throttled Atlanta to the tune of a 33.9 percent offensive rebound rate, and the Bucks didn't quite capture that magic in the opener against Phoenix. 

Why the Suns can cover

Milwaukee has a two-time NBA MVP on its roster, but Phoenix has plenty of star power in its own right, as evidenced by Game 1. Chris Paul is heading to the Hall of Fame, and he exploded for 32 points in the final three quarters of Game 1. Paul is now averaging 19.0 points and 8.7 assists per game in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, with 48/43/91 shooting splits that are elite by any description. Devin Booker is putting up 27.0 points per game in the postseason, and he was able to put pressure on the Bucks by creating free-throw attempts on Tuesday. 

Deandre Ayton was arguably the X-factor in Game 1 with 22 points and 19 rebounds, and he is generating a double-double on a nightly basis with 16.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game in the postseason. All told, the Suns are out-scoring opponents by 7.2 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs, a dominant figure when taking opponent quality into account. They deploy elite units on both ends, and Phoenix's upside was on display in a dominant Game 1 effort, even as the Bucks made more than 40 percent of their 3-pointers.

How to make Bucks vs. Suns picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, with 11 players projected to score in double figures. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can only get this pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Bucks vs Suns? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Suns vs Bucks spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.