Phoenix Suns (64-25) vs Milwaukee Bucks (58-32)
Game Info: Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 9:00 pm (Phoenix Suns Arena)
Betting Odds: Phoenix Suns -5.5 -- Over/Under: 219.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns meet in game two of the NBA Finals in basketball action from the Phoenix Suns Arena on Thursday.
The Milwaukee Bucks will look to rebound from their series-opening 118-105 loss to the Suns last time out. Khris Middleton led the charge with 29 points on 12 of 26 shooting with 5 threes along with 4 assists and 7 rebounds while Giannis Antetokoumpo had 20 points with a team-high 17 rebounds and 4 assists for the double-double. Brook Lopez added 17 points on 7 of 14 shooting with 3 threes and Jrue Holiday chipped in 10 points with 7 rebounds and a team-high 9 assists to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for the Bucks in defeat. Antetokoumpo remains Milwaukee’s leading scorer and rebounder with 27.7 PPG and 12.9 RPG while Middleton is averaging 23.7 PPG and 7.9 RPG with 5 APG. Holiday is averaging 17.2 PPG and a team-high 8.4 APG and Brook Lopez has 13.7 PPG to round out the scoring in double figures for the Bucks so far in the postseason. As a team, Milwaukee is averaging 109.4 PPG on 46.6% shooting from the field, 34.3% from three and 70.6% from the foul line while allowing 109.8 PPG on 46% shooting from the field and 36.9% from three in their last five games.
The Phoenix Suns will look to take a 2-0 series lead going out on the road after their win over the Bucks last time out. Chris Paul led the charge with 32 points on 12 of 19 shooting with 4 threes with a team-high 9 assists while Devin Booker had 27 points with a perfect 10 of 10 mark from the foul line with 6 assists. Deandre Ayton had 22 points on 8 of 10 shooting with a game-high 19 rebounds while Cameron Johnson and Cameron Payne each had 10 points to make up the rest of the double-digit scoring for the Suns in the win. Jae Crowder also had 9 rebounds for the Suns in the victory. Booker leads the Suns in scoring with 27 PPG while Paul has 19 PPG with a team-high 8.7 APG and Ayton is averaging a double-double per game with 16.5 PPG with 12.2 RPG to lead the Suns on the glass. Mikal Bridges and Cameron Payne each have 10+ PPG as well in the postseason. As a team, Phoenix is averaging 105.2 PPG on 44.8% shooting from the field, 35.7% from three and 86.8% from the foul line while allowing 102 PPG on 44% shooting from the field and 32.4% from three in their last five games.
Milwaukee is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 5-11 ATS in their last 16 playoff games as an underdog while the under is 8-1 in their last 9 games following a loss. Phoenix is 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games overall and 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a home favorite while the over is 5-0 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record.
I get why you could side with the over as the pace was still quick even with Giannis returning to Milwaukee’s lineup and the Bucks still missing a few free throws. However, I still think that we’re going to see the pace slow even further in game two as both teams try to get back to business on the defensive end. I look for this to be a first to 110 wins kind of game, so give me the under here.
Chris’s Pick Under 219.5
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
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