The Brooklyn Nets head to Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Thursday, June 10, to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of their 2021 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals, so hereโs the best Nets vs. Bucks betting pick along with the latest odds update on BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Nets have won the first two games on the home court, 115-107 and 125-86, easily covering the spread on both occasions. They are listed as 3.5-point road dogs for Thursdayโs clash, while the Bucks are -153 moneyline favorites with a total of 234.5 points.
The Nets look to keep the momentum on their side
The Brooklyn Nets humiliated the Bucks last Monday even though they played without James Harden (hamstring). Kevin Durant scored 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting from the field; Kyrie Irving added 22 points and six assists, and the Nets held the Bucks to just 44.0% shooting from the field and 29.6% from downtown while making 52.1% of their field goals and 50.0% of their 3-pointers (21-for-42).
Jeff Green (foot) and James Harden will remain sidelined Thursday. The Beard was terrific in the first round, averaging 27.8 points and 10.6 assists a night, as the Nets eliminated the Boston Celtics in five games while going 4-1 ATS in the process.
Brooklyn is scoring 122.4 points per game this postseason, shooting 49.6% from the field and an excellent 43.2% from beyond the 3-point line. The Nets are yielding 107.7 points in a return on 43.8% shooting from the field and 32.5% from downtown.
The Bucks fell apart in Game 2
The Milwaukee Bucks got beaten by a much better team in the first two games of the Western Conference semis. They have to admit it and try to improve on both sides of the ball in order to cut the deficit Thursday on the home court.
The Bucks trailed by 17 points midway through the fourth quarter of Game 1. They didnโt even bother to show up in Game 2, trailing by as many as 49 points while recording more turnovers than assists (16-14)!
Milwaukee cannot count on Donte DiVincenzo (foot), but all other guys are ready to go. The Bucks swept the Miami Heat in the previous round, scoring 118.5 points per contest and surrendering only 98.0 in a return. They recorded the 10th-best defensive rating this past regular season, allowing 111.4 points per 100 possessions.
Trends:
Brooklyn:
- 11-1 ATS in the last 12 games overall
- 13-6 ATS in the last 19 outings as underdogs
Milwaukee:
- 4-9 ATS in the last 13 games overall
- 4-8 ATS in the last 12 outings as favorites
NBA Predictions
The Bucks are in a 2-0 hole, so Iโm expecting them to show some pride and make Game 3 interesting to watch. They play at home, so Iโm not surprised by the bookiesโ decision to set Milwaukee as a fave, but I still think that Brooklyn is a better team in this matchup even with James Harden at the shelf.
Therefore, Iโm backing the Nets to cover a 5.5-point spread at slightly lower wages. Brooklyn is on fire this postseason, making 15.4 triples a night, while the Bucks are scoring 11.2 of their 36.5 attempts from deep (30.6%).
Pick: Brooklyn Nets +5.5 at -150
The Total:
The last four encounters between the Nets and Bucks went in the under, and just one of those fur games produced more than 234 points in total. Still, Iโm backing the over here, looking for the Bucks to get things going offensively.
Also, both teams prefer to play at a fast pace, and the Bucks average 102.2 possessions per 48 minutes (3rd in the NBA). If the hosts manage to make some defensive stops and score easy baskets in transition, weโll see a high-scoring affair.
Pick: Go over 234.5 points at -110