Milwaukee Bucks (50-27) vs. Brooklyn Nets (53-25)
June 7, 2021 7:30 pm EDT
The Line: Brooklyn Nets -2; Over/Under: 223.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets meet Monday in game two of the NBA Playoffs Semifinals at the Barclays Center. The Bucks need a win to even up the series at 1-1. The Nets look for another home win to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Milwaukee Bucks are averaging 116.2 points on 46.3 percent shooting and allowing 101.4 points on 41.1 percent shooting. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 25.6 points and 14.2 rebounds while Khris Middleton is averaging 19.8 points and 4.2 assists. Brook Lopez is the third double-digit scorer and Jrue Holiday is grabbing 7.2 rebounds. The Milwaukee Bucks are shooting 30.7 percent from beyond the arc and 72.2 percent from the free throw line. The Milwaukee Bucks are allowing 34.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 58.8 rebounds per game.
The Brooklyn Nets are averaging 122 points on 49.1 percent shooting and allowing 111.3 points on 43.7 percent shooting. Kevin Durant is averaging 32 points and three assists while Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.8 points and 6.2 rebounds. James Harden is the third double-digit scorer and Joe Harris is dishing 2.3 assists. The Brooklyn Nets are shooting 41.6 percent from beyond the arc and 91.1 percent from the free throw line. The Brooklyn Nets are allowing 32.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42.5 rebounds per game.
The Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest and 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog. The Nets are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 home games and 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall. The over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 road games. The over is 4-1 in Nets last 5 Monday games. The Bucks are 16-4-1 ATS in the last 21 meetings in Brooklyn.
The Bucks should like their chances here, as they can’t possibly shoot worse from three than they did in game one. The Nets are also likely going to be without Harden. While Kyrie and Durant are still a handful, you have to question if they can keep logging such heavy minutes for a seven game series. While there’s a case to be made for the Bucks, I still lean Nets and the small chalk. The Nets are a tough out at home and their shotmaking ability makes them the favorite in this series. The Bucks have also been horrible in the underdog role lately.
