Bucks Look to Remain Unbeaten Following a Loss

Milwaukee has no shortage of motivation when it hosts the Pacers on Wednesday on ESPN. The Bucks are coming off a 16-point loss Monday in Miami, and they’re also looking to avenge last month’s 118-111 defeat in Indiana. Milwaukee is a perfect 8-0 SU and 6-2 ATS this year following a defeat.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Early money poured in on the Bucks and the UNDER, prompting sportsbooks to adjust the spread last night to Milwaukee -11 and the total to 221.5. The Pacers were 1.5-point favorites when the teams met three weeks ago in Indiana, but Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Indiana News & Notes

Roughly a month after finally getting Victor Oladipo back from a ruptured knee tendon, the Pacers were without their star guard once again Monday. Indiana scratched Oladipo from the lineup against San Antonio after he experienced swelling in his right knee following the morning shoot-around, and at the time of writing, it was uncertain whether Oladipo would suit up against Milwaukee.

If there was a bright side to being without Oladipo for more than a calendar year, it’s that Indiana has learned to play without him. The Pacers didn’t panic when trailing the Spurs by 10 points in the first quarter, and they didn’t panic after seeing a 15-point lead evaporate, either.

Malcolm Brogdon led the way with 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting and T.J. Warren turned in his second consecutive strong game, scoring 23 points two days after striking for 30 in a win at Cleveland. Warren also lit up the Bucks when the teams met up three weeks ago in Indianapolis, draining 16 of his 19 shots en route to a 35-point outing.

Milwaukee News & Notes

When you’re on pace to win 70 games, you haven’t endured many lengthy losing streaks. In fact, the Bucks have yet to have a losing streak of any kind this season, rebounding from each of their first eight defeats with a victory in their next outing. Four of those eight wins came by 20 points or more, helping the Bucks average a 16.8-point margin of victory in games following a loss.

Milwaukee has also been excellent when coming off a subpar defensive effort, going 21-8 ATS in its last 29 following a game in which it allowed more than 100 points.

To keep those stellar records intact on Wednesday, the Bucks could use a bounce-back effort from their top two offensive stars. Giannis Antetokounmpo hit just six of his 18 field-goal attempts in Monday’s loss at Miami, finishing with a season-low 13 points — one day after racking up 41 points and 20 rebounds against the Hornets. Meanwhile, all-star forward Khris Middleton was 4-for-16 from the field for 12 points against Miami, possibly hampered by a neck injury that forced him to miss Milwaukee’s previous two games.

Betting Pick: Bucks -11