by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Jan 15, 2023
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Where to watch: BSWI, BSIN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Check back later
FanDuel: Bucks -11
BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Check back later
Season record
Pacers: 23-21
Bucks: 27-16
We’re nearing the halfway mark of the season in the NBA and it’s been quite the ride so far. Al McMordie is cashing hard at 22-15-0 in the last 30 days, while Doc’s Sports has also had a strong run of form as of late at 14-10-0 (+$3,000). If they’ve been killing it as much as they were in the first half, what does the second half have in store? The only way you’re going to find out is by staying locked on bigal.com and following what our champion handicappers are up to heading into the final 41 games. Trust us, you want to know.
Pacers - Bucks preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Pacers: lost 130-112 vs. Grizzlies
Bucks: lost 111-95 at Heat
The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers will meet in a battle of teams in need of a win when they face off at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Monday.
Milwaukee is trying to avoid a three-game losing streak after dropping both games in Miami this past weekend over the Heat. The first was a 108-102 defeat while getting 5.5, then losing 111-95 when getting 4. But why the Bucks were decent underdogs was because Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t in the lineup. The two-time MVP sat out due to a knee injury.
Bobby Portis led the way with 15 points but was a minus-23 in the latest loss to Miami. Pat Connaughton had 14 points and Brook Lopez added 13 on an evening where the Vikings shot 40 percent from the floor and 40 percent (19 of 48) from 3-point range. All that happened despite Jrue Holiday reaching 10 assists.
"Jrue got the ball to the middle of the zone some, but ... we've got to make a few more shots, we've got to make a few more plays," Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said after Saturday's setback. "Maybe it's getting to the free-throw line, maybe it's getting to the paint.”
The Bucks have been playing .500 ball for the last 10 games due to a myriad of guys going in and out of the lineup. Not only dealing with Giannis’ absence, but Milwaukee had to also go through a Khris Middleton-sized absence. He’s still looking to be out for possibly another week due to a knee injury.
Milwaukee is still near the top of the conference standings at 27-16, 4.5 games back of the first-place Boston Celtics and a game back of the Brooklyn Nets for second place. The East is certainly stronger than it has been in years past.
The Pacers’ tremendous start to the season has hit a bit of a snag with three straight losses. It also hasn’t helped that Tyrese Haliburton has missed time and will miss some more with knee and hand injuries.
But Indiana has lost three in a row following a 130-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. We could talk about that game, or we could talk about the Ja Morant dunk that destroyed the interwebs. Chris Duarte scored a team-high 25 points in 29 minutes off the bench, and Benn Mathurin added 16 points for a Pacers team that was held to 37% shooting and made just 11 of 47 attempts from 3-point range.
"We're integrating guys back into the lineup, we have guys out. There's growing pains there," said T.J. McConnell, who flirted with a triple-double at 13 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds coming off the bench in Indiana's 130-112 loss to Memphis on Saturday.
The Pacers were winners of six of seven before Haliburton went down and kickstarted this three-game losing streak. Indiana has also failed to cover in three of its last four after covering the previous six rather comfortably.
Prediction
The Pacers have lost seven of their last eight trips to Milwaukee. That, combined with no Haliburton and the possible return of Giannis, beams the Bucks to what should be an easy victory. Bucks 118, Pacers 98
Betting trends
Pacers are 14-6 ATS off an over this season.
Pacers are 537-477 ATS since 1996 off a loss.
Bucks are 14-7 ATS at home this season.
Projected starting lineup
Pacers:
PG: T.J. McConnell
SG: Andrew Nembhard
SF: Buddy Hield
PF: Aaron Nesmith
C: Jalen Smith
Bucks:
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Grayson Allen
SF: Pat Connaughton
PF: Giannis Anteotkounmpo
C: Brook Lopez
Injury report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton (elbow and knee, out), Myles Turner (back, questionable)
Bucks: Khris Middleton (knee, out), Joe Ingles (knee, out)
Statistical leaders
Pacers:
Points: Tyrese Haliburton – 20.2
Rebounds: Myles Turner – 7.9
Assists: Tyrese Haliburton – 10.2
Bucks:
Points: Giannis Antetokounmpo – 31.0
Rebounds: Giannis Antetokounmpo – 11.9
Assists: Jrue Holiday – 7.3
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Indiana Pacers - Milwaukee Bucks prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
