Milwaukee (42-14) at Indiana (38-19)
When: Wednesday, February 13th, 2019
Where: Bakers Life Fieldhouse,
Indianapolis, Indiana
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: FS Wisconsin, FS Indiana
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -5.5/218.5
The Eastern Conference seems to come down to just four teams with a legitimate shot at reaching the NBA Finals – Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Boston, and Toronto – and being left off that list are the Indiana Pacers. Reason being, is that their All-Star guard Victor Oladipo went down for the season a few weeks ago and he’s the most important part of this Pacers team. But, Indiana has bounced back from that devastating loss with an impressive six-game winning streak and sits in third place in the East – ahead of Philadelphia and Boston. The Pacers are currently 4-0 on their five-game homestand after a 99-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday as Wesley Matthews made his team debut. The Bucks currently have the best record in the NBA with just two days left before the All-Star Break and avoided their first back-to-back losses of the season by knocking off the Chicago Bulls 112-99 on Monday as superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo came back onto the court after a one-game absence (rest). The teams have split the first two meetings of the year with Indiana winning 113-97 on December 12th while holding Antetokounmpo to 12 points.
Milwaukee is not just a one-dimensional team as far as efficiency is concerned like most teams. The Bucks rank second in the NBA in scoring at 117.1 points while at the same time, hold opponents to 107.3 points (seventh) and 43.1 percent shooting (No. 1). Case in point – Antetokounmpo and center Brook Lopez each recorded three blocked shots on Monday as the Bucks held the Bulls to just 38.5 percent shooting and under 100 points. Milwaukee has won seven of eight overall with the lone loss being at 103-83 setback versus Orlando while Antetokounmpo rested.
Indiana went out after the trade deadline and snagged Matthews after promising the veteran guard a spot in the starting rotation and will now play his second game as a Pacer. Matthews appeared in 45 games and made 44 starts for the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks this season while averaging 12.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. After spending parts of four seasons with the Mavericks, he was traded to New York on January 31st before being waived by the Knicks Thursday. Matthews missed his first eight shots on Monday but drilled two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Indiana seal the win.
Indiana seems to be doing alright without Oladipo, but now they face the East’s best – a Milwaukee team that has been on a roll with six-straight road wins and are on a 12-3-2 ATS run away from home. This is not a lot of points to lay against an Oladipo-less Pacers team.
Pick: Bucks -3.5
Bucks are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Central.
Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Bucks are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Bucks are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS win.
Bucks are 12-3-2 ATS in their last 17 road games.
Bucks are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bucks are 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bucks are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
Bucks are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Pacers are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games following a ATS win.
Pacers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Pacers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 7-2 in Bucks last 9 vs. NBA Central.
Under is 8-3 in Bucks last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 10-4 in Bucks last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 Wednesday games.
Under is 10-4 in Bucks last 14 games following a straight up win.
Under is 13-6 in Bucks last 19 road games.
Under is 17-8 in Bucks last 25 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 6-0 in Pacers last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 8-0 in Pacers last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 7-1 in Pacers last 8 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Pacers last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Pacers last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 5-2 in Pacers last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Pacers last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 12-5 in Pacers last 17 Wednesday games.
Under is 36-15 in Pacers last 51 games following a ATS win.
Under is 21-9-1 in Pacers last 31 vs. NBA Central.
Under is 41-18 in Pacers last 59 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 38-17 in Pacers last 55 home games.
Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Indiana.
Home team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Favorite is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Bucks are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Bucks are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Indiana.
