Jayson Tatum
USATSI

The Brooklyn Nets welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to Barclays Center on Monday evening for Game 2 of their second-round series in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Milwaukee will aim to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1 after the Bucks fell short in Saturday's series opener. The Nets covered the four-point spread in a 115-107 victory in that matchup. James Harden (hamstring) and Jeff Green (foot) are out of action for Brooklyn, with Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) ruled out for Milwaukee. 

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET in Brooklyn. The latest Nets vs. Bucks odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Milwaukee as a one-point favorite. The over-under for total points is set at 237, up two points from the opening line. Before finalizing any Bucks vs. Nets picks, be sure to see 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 over $9,100 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $900 on its top-rated picks this season and entered the conference semifinals 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 set its sights on Nets vs. Bucks in the NBA Playoffs 2021. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Bucks vs. Nets:

  • Bucks vs. Nets spread: Bucks -1
  • Bucks vs. Nets over-under: 237 points
  • Bucks vs. Nets money line: Nets -105, Bucks -115
  • MIL: The Bucks are 4-5-1 against the spread in the last 10 games
  • BKN: The Nets are 8-1-1 against the spread in the last 10 games

Why the Bucks can cover

The Bucks have a significant size advantage in the series, deploying physically gifted lineups against Brooklyn's smaller approach. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the key for Milwaukee, averaging 28.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game during the regular season and putting up 34 points and 11 rebounds in Game 1. The Bucks have a 32.7 percent offensive rebound rate during the playoffs, generating an impressive amount of second-chance opportunities, and they are No. 1 in the postseason in overall rebound rate at 56.4 percent. 

Milwaukee should be able to score efficiently against a Nets defense that is middling on the whole, especially if the Bucks can find the 3-point shooting form that made them a top-five perimeter shooting team (38.9 percent) during the regular season. Defensively, Milwaukee has a significant challenge against Brooklyn's firepower. However, the Nets aren't quite as potent without Harden, and the Bucks are the No. 1 defensive team in the playoffs, allowing 98.3 points per 100 possessions.

Why the Nets can cover

No team is better suited to withstanding the absence of a superstar than the Nets. Operating without Harden won't necessarily be easy, but Kevin Durant scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Game 1, with Kyrie Irving adding 25 points and eight assists of his own. Both players averaged 26.9 points per game in the regular season and, with Joe Harris on the floor to provide elite spacing, the Nets are virtually impossible to stop. 

Brooklyn led the NBA in offensive rating (117.3 points per 100 possessions) and true shooting percentage (61.0 percent) during the regular season, and the Nets can attack in numerous ways. Defensively, the Nets aren't as potent, but they did hold Milwaukee to just 101.7 points per 100 possessions in Game 1. Brooklyn forced 14 turnovers and held Milwaukee to just 20 percent (6-30) from 3-point range, providing optimism for their resistance in the rest of what could be a very long series.

How to make Bucks vs. Nets picks

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 229 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 50 percent of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Bucks vs. Nets? And which side of the spread hits more than 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.