The second round of the NBA Playoffs tips off today with the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the Brooklyn Nets. This series has the potential to be one of the most exciting of the entire postseason. This NBA betting preview for the Celtics vs Nets NBA Playoffs matchup will provide game info, betting trends, odds and a prediction for Game 2 of this series.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets Betting Preview and Prediction | NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Round 2 NBA Playoffs Game 1
Milwaukee Bucks (46-26, 20-16 Away) vs. Brooklyn Nets (48-24, 28-8 Home)
Date: Saturday, June 5, 2021
Time: 7:30 pm EST
Venue: Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY
Coverage: TNT
The Bucks won the regular season series with the Nets, 2-1. This includes winning the two most recent games. However, Milwaukee has not faced Brooklyn with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving all on the floor together.
Milwaukee is coming off utter domination in Round 1 against the Miami Heat. After an overtime victory in Game 1, they won the next three games by an average of 26.7 points. This is thanks to the hot shooting from many Bucks players, but especially Bryn Forbes. The Bucks did have one loss in the series, and that was losing third-year player Donte DiVincenzo. While this may not seem like a big deal, he was one of the better perimeter defenders on the team, which would have been very useful against Brooklyn.
The Nets had one hiccup in their series with the Boston Celtics, but they seem to be a team that can turn it on when they need to. Harden dominated in the point guard role, while Durant seems to be unstoppable offensively. Irving is… there, as the clear third in line of this “big three,” though he is still a dangerous player. Brooklyn must find ways to score in transition and force turnovers, since their lack of a dominating threat in the paint will be exposed at some point. Sorry DeAndre Jordan, you’re not it.
NBA Betting Odds
Moneyline: MIL: (+142) | BKN: (-168)
Spread: MIL: +4 (-110) | BKN: -4 (-110)
Total: 240 – Over: (-110) I Under: (+110)
Bucks vs Nets NBA Betting Trends
- Milwaukee is 4-2 against the spread (ATS) in its last six games.
- Milwaukee is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games against Brooklyn.
- Brooklyn is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games.
- The total has hit the over in four of Brooklyn’s last six games.
Bucks vs Nets Prediction
This NBA prediction uses NumberFire’s probability model. They give Brooklyn a 51.1% chance to win Game 1 of this NBA Playoffs matchup.
The Bucks have been off for a week, which very well could hurt them. Their momentum was at an all-time high, then they had to sit and watch others play for a week. If Milwaukee does not come out and continue shooting at the same efficiency, I think they are in trouble in this game. That is exactly what I’m predicting. While the size of Giannis Antetokounmpo could disrupt the Nets early, Brooklyn will pour in too many shots from long range for the Bucks to win.
