Bucks vs Pacers Odds & Picks: Pacers A Scrappy Underdog Play

For the Milwaukee Bucks, the waiting game continues. Star center Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA’s leading scorer at 32.7 points per game, has missed four straight contests—first with back spasms, and then with an illness. His status will clearly be crucial to Milwaukee’s hopes Tuesday afternoon in Indianapolis, where the Pacers are a 1.5-point home underdogs according to the odds at FanDuel.

The Bucks have dropped two straight outright without their big man in the paint, first as 6-point home favorites to Brooklyn and then as 2.5-point road favorites in Chicago on Saturday. Indiana has won six of its last eight both outright and ATS, most recently prevailing 123-114 in Boston as a 10.5-point underdog on Sunday.

Bucks vs Pacers Odds Today

Milwaukee vs Indiana, Dec. 31, 3:00 pm ET

Odds as of Dec. 31 at FanDuel

Bucks vs Pacers Picks Today

Pacers ML (+104) & UNDER 230 (-112) at FanDuel

After a ragged start to the season that included a stretch of 10 straight ATS losses, the Pacers of late have emerged as a somewhat reliable cover. Over a 10-game span beginning Dec. 6, Indiana has won outright seven times, covering each of those in the process, and five times covering as an underdog. Andrew Nembhard’s return from a knee injury has bolstered the Pacers’ defense, allowing their potent combo of interior size and perimeter shooting to do its thing.

The Bucks rebounded from their own rough start, winning 13 of 16 at one point. But Milwaukee’s big three of Antetokounmpo, guard Damian Lillard and wing Khris Middleton has rarely played together—Middleton is shaking off the rust of double ankle surgery, Lillard missed four games last week due to an illness, and lately Giannis has been out. Although Lillard returned Saturday, the Bucks often struggle to make key stops with their best player on the bench.

Antetokounmpo scored 37 in the only previous meeting with Indiana this season, when the Bucks covered as a 6-point home favorite on Nov. 22. Indiana is playing much better now, and with Antetokounmpo still uncertain for Tuesday afternoon’s contest—he was listed as questionable on the Bucks’ official injury report as of Monday—backing the surging Pacers on their home floor seems like the best play.

All the time missed by Giannis, Dame and Middleton has taken a toll on the Bucks offense, so it’s no surprise that Milwaukee has fallen UNDER the total in five of its last seven. The Pacers have failed to eclipse the total in eight of their last 12, and we’ll stick with that trend with the Greek Freak either sitting out or trying to shake off the rust.

Bucks vs Pacers News

Outside of Antetokounmpo, Bucks guard A.J. Green is listed as probable with a right calf contusion, and Middleton is probable as he continues to work back from bilateral ankle surgery.

For the Pacers, forward Obi Toppin is questionable with a left ankle sprain, center Isaiah Jackson is out with a torn right Achilles tendon, forward Aaron Nesmith is out with a left ankle sprain, and center James Wiseman is out with a torn left Achilles tendon.

Bucks vs Pacers Betting Trends Today