Bucks and Pacers Both Battling for Eastern Conference Playoff Berths

On Thursday, an important game in the Eastern Conference with playoff implications highlights the NBA calendar when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Indiana Pacers. The current line has Indiana favored by 4.5 points with the over/under point total on 201.

Entering this game, Milwaukee has an overall record of 40-38 straight up and 34-44 against the spread. On the road, the Bucks are 18-20 SU and 16-22 ATS. Indiana on the season is 38-40 SU and 35-42-1 ATS. At home, the Pacers are 27-12 SU and 21-17-1 ATS.

Indiana looks to win consecutive games for the first time in two months while trying to stay in the top 8 of the Eastern Conference. The Pacers snapped a losing streak of four games in a 108-90 win over Toronto on Tuesday. Indiana is No. 8 just a half game in front of No. 9 Miami.

Milwaukee is trying to finish the season at No. 5 in the East. However, the Bucks have lost two straight including a 31-point loss to Oklahoma City Tuesday on the road. Milwaukee star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo said the team must return to the flow it had prior to the two losses.

Milwaukee is only a half game in front of the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks and a pair of games up on No. 7 Chicago Bulls and No. 8 Pacers. Milwaukee’s final four regular season games will be on the road.

Indiana re-signed veteran guard Lance Stephenson and put him into the starting lineup on Tuesday for his first game at home. The swingman enjoyed his best NBA seasons for Indiana between 2012 and 2014. He scored 12 points on Tuesday.

Following its humiliating loss against Oklahoma City, Milwaukee knows it must regroup quickly or possibly slide to the sixth or seven spot in the East and face a much tougher during the first round of the playoffs.

Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon has missed three straight games with a bad back and is doubtful for Thursday’s game.

Paul George the leading scorer for Indiana has averaged 33 points during his past five games.

Milwaukee is 3-0 SU this season against Indiana.

Milwaukee is 4-1 ATS in its past 5 games on the road.

Indiana is 0-6 ATS in its past 6 games after a win straight up.

Prediction: Milwaukee was humiliated on Tuesday and will not let than happen again. Both teams arefighting for playoff positioning. Lean here toward the Bucks.