Bucks vs. Nets Game 2 Preview: Odds, Picks, & Predictions
Nets vs. Bucks Game 2 Odds
| Bucks Odds | +1.5 |
| Nets Odds | -1.5 |
| Moneyline | +100/-120 |
| Over/Under | 234.5 |
| NBA Odds accurate as of Monday, June 7 at BetMGM | |
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NBA Picks: Bucks vs. Nets Odds Update
- GM 2 Moneyline: Just a few hours before tip-off, bettors appear divided between which team they’re picking to win Bucks vs. Nets Game 2. According to our friends at Scores And Odds, the moneyline betting handle is evenly split 50-50.
- GM 2 Spread: A slight majority are betting on the Nets spread (now +1), which isn’t much different than the moneyline at this point. This line opened Nets -2.5 following Game 1, and the Nets were still favored at lunch today. However, this afternoon, sportsbooks must have taken some sharp action on Milwaukee and subsequently made the Bucks short favorites.
- GM 2 Over/Under: The public predicts a high-scoring affair in tonight’s game, betting an overwhelming majority of the handle on the Over. Oddsmakers have stayed busy moving this number as well. It opened 235 before falling to 234.5. Now it’s 237, just three points away from the record setting Over/Under that saw on Saturday (240).
The information above was updated at 4:45 pm ET.
Bucks vs. Nets Game 2 Preview
James Harden went down early, but that didn’t stop the Brooklyn Nets from taking the first game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Though it was a slow start, with the Nets trailing at the end of the first quarter and failing to cover the spread at halftime, Brooklyn eventually pulled away to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 115-107. Kevin Durant led the Nets with 29 points, while Kyrie Irving followed with 25. Blake Griffin and Joe Harris stepped up to provide support, combining for 37 points (18 & 19, respectively). Griffin played 35 minutes, grabbing 15 rebounds, two steals, and three assists in the process.
The biggest difference in the game came on the three-point line. The Bucks made only 6-of-30 attempts from behind the arc. Their 20% three-point shooting trailed the Nets, who made 15-of-40, good for 37.5%, a number that was much closer to their season average of 36%.
Nets Injury Report: Harden OUT in Game 2
With or without Harden, beating the Nets is no easy task, but it’s at least less difficult if they don’t have to face him. On Sunday, the Nets announced that Harden would sit out Game 2. With a 1-0 lead, Nets head coach Steve Nash is proceeding with caution with the superstar, and understandably so. It’s not the first time Harden’s right hamstring has sent him to the sideline. In fact, he missed a good portion of the season due to the same nagging injury.
Though the Bucks couldn’t take advantage of his absence on Saturday, there’s reason to believe they can do so Monday night. Milwaukee’s strength is their defense, led by two-time NBA All-Defensive player Jrue Holiday. Initially, the Bucks had to decide who they wanted Holiday to guard, Harden or Irving. Now, by the process of elimination, things are a bit clearer for the Bucks defensively, so long as Harden is out.
Harden’s replacement in Game 1 was Bruce Brown. In 21 minutes of play, he contributed six points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Nets-Bucks Preview: Oddsmakers Shorten Spread & Over/Under
As you can see at the top of this page, oddsmakers have shorted the Game 2 spread to Nets -1.5, down 3.5 points from Game 1. NBA bettors might look at this spread and the score from Saturday night and presume the Nets are the best bet. They played 39 minutes without Harden, after all, and still beat the Bucks by eight points. However, not so fast, my friends.
During the regular season, the Bucks were one of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA. They shot 38.9% from deep, trailing on the Clippers, Nets and Knicks and three-point percentage. Suffice to say, it’s foolish to expect them to shoot as poorly tonight as they did in Game 1.
On the other side of things, are we confident Blake Griffin can meet the lofty expectations he set in Game 1?
The Over/Under is also down from 240 in Game 1 to 234.5 now in Game 2. Taking a side here is difficult. On the one hand, I expect the Bucks to score more points than 107. They led the NBA with 120.1 during the regular season, and we expect some positive regression from the three-point line. Additionally, the Nets played at a faster pace without Harden (104.50) than they did in the first round with him. However, their Offensive Rating and Effective Field Goal Percentage took a hit.
Bucks vs. Nets Game 2 Picks
If you read my Bucks vs. Nets Series Preview, you know I was on the Nets to win the series at -200. I still feel good about it, but obviously less so with Harden out. As a result, I’m betting on the Bucks +1.5 tonight as a type of hedge for my series bet. My series bet is still very live regardless of tonight’s outcome. Best case scenario is a Nets victory by 1, but I suppose I shouldn’t be too greedy.
Be sure to check on this page throughout the day, as we add more betting information for your Bucks-Nets picks, including trends, handle percentages from across the sports betting industry, and prop bets!
Game 2 Pick: Bucks +1.5 at BetMGM
Eric Beimfohr has somes player props he’s targeting at FanDuel:
Very excited for Bucks/Nets 🏀
— Erik Beimfohr 🙌 (@erikbeimfohr) June 7, 2021
Even more excited that Fanduel is giving away free money on these Jrue Holiday props
o6.5 assists
o5.5 rebounds
o12.5 Rebounds + Assists (LOL)
o32.5 P+R+A
Even sprinkling a little Triple Double Action at +3000 👀
Image Credit: Imagn