Will the Milwaukee Bucks have injured All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for Thursday’s Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series at Indiana on Thursday. Likely not Giannis and maybe Lillard as the Bucks are heavy underdogs with their season on the line again down 3-2.

Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks 2024 NBA Playoffs Game 6 Info

BUCKS PROTECT HOMECOURT TO FORCE A GAME 6 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/jgOmxCCCzx

— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2024

• When: Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, 6:30 PM ET
• Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• TV: TNT
• Radio: WTMJ 620 AM (Bucks) // 107.5 FM The Fan (Pacers)
• Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Odds: Bucks (+8) // Pacers (-8)

Why bet on the Milwaukee Bucks?

Bobby Portis has been starting for Giannis but was ejected in the first quarter of Game 4. Portis bounced back big in Game 5 with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Portis has now had a double-double in every game he has finished in the series. By the time he walked off the court for good late in the fourth quarter, he did so to a standing ovation and the familiar “Bobby! Bobby!” chant that has become a staple at Fiserv Forum throughout his tenure.

Khris Middleton (29 points, 12 rebounds) and Patrick Beverley (13 points, 12 assists) also had double-doubles. Danilo Gallinari played 20 minutes and pulled down six rebounds. The 35-year-old did not play in the first three games of the series.

Beverley had 12 of his 13 points before halftime and switched things up after the break, dishing out 10 of his 12 assists in the third and fourth quarters. Meanwhile, it was Middleton’s fourth double-double of the series and third straight. It was his third consecutive game playing at least 40 minutes. He kept the team connected in the first quarter, scoring 10 points when the Pacers went 7-for-13 and took a 31-23 lead. He scored seven points each in the second and third quarters to help erase a 10-point deficit and build a lead the Bucks wouldn’t give up.

So will Giannis and Lillard play in Game 6? Here’s what Rivers said after Game 5, rather cryptically: “I don’t know how to answer that. I know I hope. I think they’re very, very, very close.” Antetokounmpo is still rehabbing a calf strain that has kept him out since April 9, while Lillard is sidelined with an Achilles injury that occurred late in Game 3.

Why bet on the Indiana Pacers?

Indiana had won three straight games in this series for a commanding 3-1 lead and routed Milwaukee in Game 4 on Sunday when the Bucks were without Antetokounmpo and Lillard. With a chance to clinch on the road in Game 5 on Tuesday, the Pacers simply laid a huge egg in a 115-92 loss.

After leading by as many as 10 points in the first quarter, a 17-point second frame put the Pacers behind 53-48 at halftime. Milwaukee then boosted its lead to 20 by outscoring Indiana 34-19 in the third quarter before holding on in the final frame.

Including the regular season, Indiana’s 92 points were the fewest by the Pacers in a game for the 2023-2024 season. Indiana shot just 44.4 percent from the field, including 31.6 percent from 3-point range, while the Bucks made 52.4 percent of their shots.

Haliburton led the Pacers with 16 points, six assists and four rebounds. Haliburton led the team in scoring but was just 6-for-14 shooting. The Pacers scored less than 100 points only once this season, but they have scored 94 and 92 points in their two losses this series. The offense will have to be much better in Game 6 in order to avoid having to go back to Milwaukee for Game 7.

Thursday’s Game 6 will be a “Gold Out” in Indianapolis as all fans in attendance will receive a gold T-shirt. It features the letters “IND” emblazoned across an outline of the state of Indiana. The Pacers are 2-0 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse so far this postseason. The winner of this series faces either the Knicks or 76ers in the East semifinals.

Bucks vs. Pacers Betting Trends

• Milwaukee is 2-5 SU in the last 7 games.
• Bucks are 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games played in May.
• The total went over in 7 of Milwaukee’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana.
• Indiana is 7-3 SU in the last 10 games.
• Pacers are 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games played in May.
• The total went over in 8 of Indiana’s last 10 games.

Bucks vs. Pacers 2024 NBA Playoffs Game 6 Prediction

Milwaukee takes the win and ties the series, forcing it to Game 7 this Saturday, May 4th.

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