Event Details
- Date and Time: Tuesday, 31 December, 2024, 1:00 PM ET
- Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, USA
- Competition: NBA Regular Season Game
Odds via 20Bet
| Odds via 20bet | |
| Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks | Tuesday, 31 December, 2024, 1:00 PM ET |
| Indiana Pacers Odds | -105 |
| Milwaukee Bucks Odds | -107 |
| Over\Under | Over 227.5: -139 |
Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Preview
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers find themselves just under .500 going into the new year, emphasizing the roster’s overall mediocrity. While Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner can produce above-average stats, Indiana have no real star to look to in crunch time.
The roster has excelled in transition, just as it did last year, but it has been seriously lacking in setting up a half-court offense. Tyrese Haliburton, with his 8.8 assists a night, is definitely trying to get the offense moving. However, they’ve simply not been elite in the half-court.
what a year it’s been 😮💨📸#YesCers pic.twitter.com/QsQPy1VKS0
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 30, 2024
In a head-to-head matchup with the athletic Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers are going to need to work some magic to pull out the win. The Bucks are able to keep up with them in the transition, and they simply have no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have been disappointing so far this year, with a record of 16-14. Giannis Antetokounmpo has continued to play at an all-time great level, but Milwaukee is simply not winning enough games for the talent on their roster.
Damian Lillard and Giannis have been fantastic, but not much can be said about the rest of the side. Khris Middleton missed most of the season, and besides Brook Lopez, they have no real bench players worth noting.
Last trip of 2024.#ULTRADrip pic.twitter.com/lyNa2o3lGH
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 30, 2024
Nonetheless, Damian and Giannis should be enough to push Indiana into a corner, especially since Myles Turner isn’t able to keep up with Giannis laterally.
Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction
- Pick: Milwaukee Bucks to win
- Odds: -106 (20Bet)
- Score prediction: Milwaukee Bucks 123 – 115 Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers will likely struggle to keep up with the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch, considering they have no elite score to put the game away. Their bench may be deeper than Milwaukee’s, but as long as Lillard and Antetokounmpo play their game, they’ll likely have too much scoring for Indiana to handle.
Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton will be looking to push the pace of the game as much as possible with Giannis on the court. That will be a struggle. Siakams slashing and Turner’s post-game will suffer hugely, with the massive Brook Lopez clogging the paint alongside Giannis. However, they’ve been shooting well, which could be their golden ticket to sneaking out a win. You never know what might happen.
Deep threes and Dre’s putback dunk.
🏀: @BMO_US pic.twitter.com/FbHDucqPhA
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 30, 2024
On Milwaukee’s side of things, Lillard shouldn’t struggle in the backcourt, even with Haliburton in his face. Giannis will likely have another 30-40-point night, attacking the basket and drawing in defenders. All this while Portis and Lillard take shots from beyond the arch.
All in all, Indiana might be on the back foot going into Tuesday’s game, trying to at least slow down the Greek Freak. That is not to say they don’t have a decent shot at taking the dub. It’s just going to be an uphill battle.
Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks, Betting Tip
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo to score 30.5 or more
Odds: -122 (20Bet)
While the Milwaukee Bucks have not seen much success, Giannis has continued to average 32.2 points per game this season, putting him in an elite group of scorers. With nobody able to keep up with his verticality, the Indiana Pacers will struggle to hold Giannis to below 31.5 points.
- Pick: Pascal Siakam to score 18.5 or more
- Odds: -117 (20Bet)
Pascal Siakam may not be the highest scorer in the NBA, but he’s still leading Indiana in points with 19.9 a night. Against a team like Milwaukee, where his usage should be up due to his athleticism, scoring 19.5 points or more a game is not a huge stretch.
Where to Watch (USA, Canada)
- TSN (Canada)
- Sportsnet (Canada)
- NBA League Pass (USA)
- ESPN+ (USA)
- Fubo (USA)
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