Milwaukee Bucks (52-29) vs Brooklyn Nets (55-27)
Game Info: Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 8:30 pm (Fiserv Forum)
Betting Odds: Milwaukee Bucks -5.5 -- Over/Under: 220 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks meet in game six of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final matchup in NBA action from the Fiserv Forum on Thursday night.
The Brooklyn Nets will look to close out the series and take care of business after making it a 3-2 series in their favor with a 114-108 win over Milwaukee last time out. Kevin Durant played all 48 minutes, leading the Nets with 49 points on 16 of 23 shooting with 4 threes and a 13 of 16 mark from the foul line along with 17 rebounds and 10 assists for the triple-double. Jeff Green added 27 points on 8 of 11 shooting with 7 threes in 34 minutes off of the bench and Black Griffin chipped in 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting with 3 triples to finish off the trio of double-digit scorers for Brooklyn in the victory. James Harden made his return to the lineup, but was a non-factor offensively, scoring just 5 points on 1 of 10 shooting with 5 rebounds and 8 assists in almost 46 minutes of game time. Durant leads the Nets in scoring and rebounding in the postseason with 33.1 PPG and 9.1 RPG while also chipping in 4.4 APG. Kyrie Irving’s status is still up in the air but he remains 2nd in scoring with 22.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 3.4 APG. Harden is averaging 20.6 PPG with 6.1 RPG and a team-high 8.7 APG while Joe Harris and Jeff Green are both averaging double-digits in scoring so far in the playoffs. As a team, Brooklyn is averaging 106.6 PPG on 45.5% shooting from the field, 37% from three and 85.1% from the foul line while allowing 98.8 PPG on 43.9% shooting from the field and 29.3% from three in their last five games.
The Milwaukee Bucks will look to rebound and force a game seven after their disappointing showing last time out. Giannis Antetokoumpo led the way with 34 points on 14 of 22 shooting with 12 rebounds for the double-double while Khris Middleton had 25 points with 3 threes and 5 assists and Jrue Holiday added 17 points with 3 threes and a team-high 8 assists. Brook Lopez added 15 points on 6 of 10 shooting with 3 threes and 6 rebounds and Pat Connaughton added 10 points to finish off the double-digit scoring for Milwaukee in defeat. Antetokoumpo leads the Bucks in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double per game with 27.4 PPG and 13.3 RPG with 5.3 APG as well while Middleton has 21.7 PPG with 7.6 RPG and 4 APG. Holiday has 14.9 PPG with 5.6 RPG and a team-high 7.8 APG while Brook Lopez and Bryn Forbes are also averaging double figures scoring so far in the playoffs. As a team, Milwaukee is averaging 98.8 PPG on 43.9% shooting from the field, 29.3% from three and 63.1% from the foul line while allowing 106.6 PPG on 45.5% shooting from the field and 37% from three in their last five games.
Brooklyn is 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following a win and 21-8 ATS in their last 29 games overall while the under is 6-0-1 in their last 7 games as an underdog. Milwaukee is 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games as a favorite and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall while the under is 6-0 in their last 6 games following a loss. The under is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings between these two teams and 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two teams in Milwaukee.
I get why fans would be looking at the over here given that it came through in game five, but let’s be realistic, Jeff Green probably isn’t hitting 7 threes again, and that under looked really good with about 1:30 to go in the game before the foul game started late. I think that with so much on the line for both sides, you’re going to see a different intensity on the defensive end, and that this one comes in under the number.
Chris’s Pick Under 220
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
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