Milwaukee Bucks (57-31) vs. Atlanta Hawks (51-38)
July 3, 2021 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: Atlanta Hawks -2; Over/Under: 216.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks meet Saturday, July 3 in Game 6 of the NBA East Finals at the State Farm Arena. The Bucks will make their first NBA Final appearance since the 1973-74 season with a victory here. The Hawks need a win here to save their season and force a game seven on Monday.
The Milwaukee Bucks are averaging 109.3 points on 46 percent shooting and allowing 103.5 points on 44.4 percent shooting. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.2 points and 12.7 rebounds while Khris Middleton is averaging 22.9 points and 4.9 assists. Jrue Holiday is the third double-digit scorer and Brook Lopez is grabbing 6.1 rebounds. The Milwaukee Bucks are shooting 30.6 percent from beyond the arc and 70 percent from the free throw line. The Milwaukee Bucks are allowing 34.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 50.1 rebounds per game.
The Atlanta Hawks are averaging 106.2 points on 45.1 percent shooting and allowing 107.2 points on 45.7 percent shooting. Trae Young is averaging 29.8 points and 9.5 assists while John Collins is averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds. Bogdan Bogdanovic is the third double-digit scorer and Danilo Gallinari is grabbing 3.6 rebounds. The Atlanta Hawks are shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the arc and 79.6 percent from the free throw line. The Atlanta Hawks are allowing 34.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42.4 rebounds per game.
The Bucks are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Hawks are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 home games and 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games overall. The under is 8-3-1 in Bucks last 12 overall. The under is 7-2 in Hawks last 9 overall. The Bucks are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
The Bucks have had consistency issues and right when it looks like they’ve figured things out, they lay an egg in the following game. I don’t expect Antetokounmpo to play in this game and I certainly don’t believe Lopez and Bobby Portis will play like they did in game 5. This line tells me oddsmakers are expecting Trae Young to play in this game. If that’s the case, you have to like the Hawks chances at home. There should be a game seven between these clubs. I’ll lay the bucket.
