Bulls vs Bucks Odds & Picks: Milwaukee The Big Fave With LaVine Sidelined

The Milwaukee Bucks (54-32 SU, 41-45 ATS) will look to wrap up their first-round series when they welcome the Chicago Bulls (47-39, 44-41-1) to Fiserv Forum on Wednesday. Can Milwaukee win its third straight game in the series? Find out in our Bulls vs Bucks prediction.

Bulls vs Bucks Odds & Analysis

Sportsbook Odds

The Bucks opened as a big 9.5-point favorite for Game 5 with the total set at 218.5 points. The UNDER is 4-1 in Chicago’s last five games and 7-1 in the last eight meetings between the two clubs. Milwaukee has continued to demonstrate its dominance over Chicago in this series as they’ve improved to 18-2 over the last 20 meetings – a clear nod to the hosts in our Bulls vs Bucks prediction.

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Bulls Offense Continues To Falter

The Bulls have struggled offensively in this series and that trend continued in Game 4 as they fell 119-95 to the Bucks. Chicago has scored 95 points or less in three of four games, losing each of those contests. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 24 points and 13 assists for a double-double while DeMar DeRozan (23 points) and Patrick Williams (20 points, 10 rebounds) also scored 20-plus in the loss.

Outside of DeRozan, LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls haven’t had much offensive firepower in the series. The trio is combining for an average of 62.1 points per game while the team as a whole is scoring just 94 per contest. Things look even more bleak going into Wednesday given that LaVine is out with COVID-19.

Matt Thomas (leg) is also out while Alex Caruso (concussion) is questionable.

Antetokounmpo Comes Up Big As Bucks Go Up 3-1

The Bucks scored at least 110 points for the third time in four games thanks to big performances from Giannis Antetokounmpo (32 points, 17 rebounds), Grayson Allen (27 points) and Jrue Holiday (26 points).

Antetokounmpo has been the clear X factor in the series as the 2021 NBA Finals MVP is averaging 27.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and seven assists per game – the highest totals of any player on either team. Along with Antetokounmpo, Allen has emerged as a big-time player for the Bucks, shooting 18-for-24 from the field and 11-for-14 from beyond the arc over the last two games.

George Hill (abdominal) is questionable for Wednesday while Khris Middleton (knee) is out.

Bulls vs Bucks Pick & Insights

Bulls: Keys To Cover

In Game 2 – Chicago’s only victory – the Bulls outscored the Bucks thanks to a 41-point effort from DeMar DeRozan, and even then they just scraped by 114-110. Needless to say, it will likely take another heroic effort from DeRozan to keep Chicago alive, especially with LaVine now out.

Bucks: Keys To Cover

The Antetokounmpo-led Bucks are getting tons of scoring throughout the lineup and have found a way to shut down the Bulls offense. If Milwaukee can hold Chicago to its series average of 94 points again, or thereabouts, the Bucks will waltz into the second round.

Odds Shark’s Computer Bulls vs Bucks Prediction: Bucks -12

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