The Milwaukee Bucks picked up a massive win – without Giannis Antetokounmpo – in Game 1 of the first round against the Indiana Pacers, but can they do that again on Tuesday?
This game has a close spread, but I’m looking to the prop market for my favorite plays, as I don’t expect Indiana to fall behind by 20-plus points in the first half again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is still listed as doubtful, so bettors should expect a heavy dosage of Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis in this one.
Let’s break down the top props for the Bucks-Pacers Game 2 contest:
Pacers vs. Bucks best NBA prop bets
- Khris Middleton OVER 32.5 points, rebounds and assists
- Tyrese Haliburton UNDER 19.5 points
- Patrick Beverley OVER 4.5 assists
Khris Middleton OVER 32.5 points, rebounds and assists
Khris Middleton had a massive Game 1 for the Bucks, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the win. He also dished out four assists, easily clearing this number.
With Antetokounmpo likely to sit again – especially with the Bucks up 1-0 in the series – Middleton could be in line for a major role again on Tuesday.
The former All-Star only needed to take 14 shots to score 23 points on Sunday night, but Damian Lillard (24 shots) was on fire in the first half. I could see these shot numbers evening out a bit, especially if the Pacers decide to change their game plan to slow down Dame.
Either way, Middleton has been great on the glass and as a rebounder, so he has a high floor for this prop tonight.
Tyrese Haliburton UNDER 19.5 points
All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton took just seven shots for the Pacers in Game 1, and that’s not going to get it done when it comes to his scoring props.
The former first-round pick finished with nine points, and going back to the regular season, he’s failed to score 20 or more points in five of his last six games.
This has been a trend for awhile, as Haliburton struggled after the All-Star break, averaging 17.3 points per game while shooting just 30.3 from beyond the arc.
With Patrick Beverley in the starting lineup if Giannis is out, that could spell trouble for Hali on offense.
Patrick Beverley OVER 4.5 assists
As I mentioned, Beverley started and played nearly 37 minutes in Game 1, a great sign for his props going to Game 2.
Pat Bev finished with eight dimes in Game 1, and he’s cleared 4.5 assists in three of his last four games since Giannis went down with a calf injury.
There’s no doubt that Doc Rivers trusts Beverley, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see the veteran play a major role, especially when it comes to setting up Lillard and Middleton.
At plus money, this is one of my favorite plays of the night.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.