Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks bring a sense of urgency to the floor on Friday evening as they host the Atlanta Hawks for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. Milwaukee dropped Game 1 on its home floor as it failed to slow Trae Young. Atlanta, operating as the No. 5 seed, will look to take a commanding 2-0 series advantage. Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) is questionable for Atlanta, with De'Andre Hunter (knee) ruled out. Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) is out for Milwaukee.
Tip-off in this 2021 NBA Playoffs matchup is at 8:30 p.m. ET. The latest Hawks vs. Bucks odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Milwaukee as an 8.5-point favorite. The over-under, or total points expected is set at 225. Before finalizing any Bucks vs. Hawks picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
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 conference finals of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on a stunning 100-66 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread dating back to last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has locked in its Hawks vs. Bucks picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Bucks vs. Hawks:
- Hawks vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -8.5
- Hawks vs. Bucks over-under: 225 points
- Hawks vs. Bucks money line: Bucks -355, Hawks +295
- ATL: The Hawks are 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 games
- MIL: The Bucks are 5-5 against the spread in the last 10 games
Why the Hawks can cover
Atlanta's offense showed its considerable upside in Game 1. The Hawks scored nearly 1.15 points per possession despite mediocre shooting from 3-point distance, and Young was virtually unstoppable. Young scored 48 points, dished out 11 assists and snagged seven rebounds in the game, putting consistent pressure on Milwaukee's defense. By the fourth quarter, the Bucks strayed from their chosen defensive scheme in drop coverage, and that allowed Atlanta to secure a whopping 42.3 percent of its misses on the offensive glass after halftime.
John Collins and Clint Capela were huge parts of that success, as Collins finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds while Capela added 19 boards. The Hawks were a top-10 offensive team in the regular season, and they've excelled in taking care of the ball to mitigate some shaky shooting so far in the postseason. If Atlanta can find its baseline as a team that usually converts 37.3 percent of its 3-point attempts, the Hawks have a chance to not only cover, but possibly steal another game on the road.
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee is in a desperate position after losing the opener on its home floor. However, the Bucks have an incredibly strong analytical baseline to fall back on, and the Game 1 loss for Milwaukee was its first defeat against the Hawks at home since 2016. The Bucks were a top-five offensive team during the regular season, scoring 116.5 points per 100 possessions, and they finished in the top five in both field-goal shooting (48.7 percent) and 3-point shooting (38.9 percent). Milwaukee takes care of the ball and crashes the offensive glass at an above-average level, and the Bucks also have a history of defensive success.
The Bucks were No. 2 in the NBA in 2-point defense this season, with opponents shooting just 50.7 percent inside the arc, and they also led the NBA in free-throw rate allowed. They had success in keeping Atlanta away from the charity stripe in the opener and, if the Bucks can return to their regular season form of allowing just 43.1 points in the paint per game, Milwaukee's statistical approach should bear out in slowing Young and the Hawks.
How to make Bucks vs. Hawks picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 217 combined points. 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 Hawks vs. Bucks? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.
