Central Division rivals meet on a standalone spot on Thursday evening. The NBA will showcase only two games on Thursday, and the Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Indiana Pacers in the opener of the night. It is the first of four scheduled meetings between the clubs this season. The Bucks enter the game with a 5-2 record, while the Pacers host the matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 5-3 overall mark to begin the 2023-24 NBA season. Damian Lillard (calf) is listed as questionable for the Bucks
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists Milwaukee as a 2-point favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 241.5 in the latest Bucks vs. Pacers odds. Before making any Pacers vs. Bucks picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 3 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a 79-42 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Pacers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pacers vs. Bucks:
- Bucks vs. Pacers spread: Bucks -2
- Bucks vs. Pacers over/under: 241.5 points
- Bucks vs. Pacers money line: Bucks -135, Pacers +112
- Milwaukee: The Bucks are 11-2-1 against the spread in the last 14 games with no rest
- Indiana: The Pacers are 7-8 against the spread in the last 15 games with no rest
- Bucks vs. Pacers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee played quite well against Indiana last season, taking three of four meetings and both contests in Indianapolis. In those four games, the Bucks scored 127.9 points per 100 possessions and shot 55.3% from the field with 42.5% from 3-point distance. Milwaukee also averaged 29.5 assists per game against Indiana with a stellar 31.9% offensive rebound rate. Things were even better for the Bucks in Indianapolis, with a two-game sweep, and Milwaukee averaged 145.0 points per game against the Pacers in 2022-23 road games.
This season, the Bucks are scoring 1.14 points per possession and leading the NBA with 29.7 free throw attempts per game. Milwaukee generated 32 free throw attempts in a win over Detroit on Wednesday, and the Bucks had seven players score in double figures while committing a turnover on only 9% of possessions. For the season, Milwaukee is in the top five of the NBA in 3-pointers per game (14.1) and the team is shooting almost 37% from beyond the arc. See which team to pick here.
Why the Pacers can cover
The Pacers have enjoyed a home-heavy schedule this season, and they have played quite well in Indianapolis. The Pacers are 4-2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, out-scoring opponents by more than 12 points per 100 possessions in those six games. That includes a stellar showing in a win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, with the Pacers scoring 1.26 points per possession while shooting 52% from the field and committing only 11 turnovers.
Indiana has the best offensive efficiency mark in the NBA this season, scoring more than 1.21 points per possession. The Pacers also rank in the top five in field goal percentage (49.8%), 3-point percentage (38.2%), and 3-pointers per game (15.3), and Indiana shares the ball at an elite level. In fact, Indiana leads the NBA with 31.1 assists per game while committing only 13.4 turnovers and a league-best 5.8 live-ball turnovers per contest. Seven players are averaging at least 11 points per game for the Pacers, and Indiana keeps the pressure on opponents. See which team to pick here.
How to make Pacers vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 239 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Bucks vs. Pacers, and which side of the spread is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 79-42 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
