The Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks bring their crucial two-game set to a close when these Eastern Conference powers clash inside Fiserv Forum on Tuesday.
The Bucks scored a 117-114 victory as 2.5-point NBA betting favorites Sunday, helping bump Brooklyn from the top spot in the East and put just 2.5 games between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the standings. Tonight's meeting serves as the rubber matchup on the season, with Brooklyn and Milwaukee splitting the previous two matchups.
Here are our free NBA picks and predictions for Nets vs. Bucks on May 4.
Nets vs Bucks odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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NBA Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonTwinSpires opened the Bucks as 2-point favorites and saw some back-and-forth to -1.5, then resettled at -2, where the line sits at 3 p.m. ET. The Nets are drawing 61 percent of spread bets and 55 percent of spread money. The total is up a tick from 241.5 to 242, with 59 percent of bets on the Under and 62 percent of money on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameNets vs Bucks betting preview
Injuries
Nets: James Harden G (Out), Chris Chiozza G (Out).
Bucks: Bobby Portis F (Probable), Jeff Teague G (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Bucks.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Today may officially be “Star Wars Day” but the real star wars took place on Sunday, with Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo combining for 91 points. But outside of Durant, the rest of the Nets just didn’t show up.
Taking Durant out of the equation, Brooklyn was 25 for 63 from the floor and shot just 39.7 percent. Milwaukee, on the other hand, fired at a 49 percent clip and scored 48 of its 117 points inside the paint.
But despite a very poor performance from Brooklyn on both ends of the court, the Nets were in the game right until a last-second huck to force overtime — even with Antetokounmpo putting in one of his greatest career efforts (49 points on 21-of-36 shooting).
As for Brooklyn’s offense, Durant just shredded one of the top defensive teams in the NBA. The Bucks will clamp down even further on the 6-foot-11 forward tonight, creating more space for the Nets’ role players to redeem themselves.
Minus Durant, Brooklyn shot 10 for 29 from distance (34.5%) in Sunday’s loss but overall is one of the better shooting teams from outside, ranking fourth in 3-point shooting on the road (38.9%). Sharpshooters Joe Harris and Landry Shamet shot 46.2 percent and 41.6 percent, respectively, from deep in April and will find that touch again Tuesday.
The Nets took Milwaukee’s best shot and lost by only three points in Game 1. In honor of “May The Fourth,” The Empire Strikes Back tonight.
PREDICTION: Brooklyn +1.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The Bucks, who had struggled defensively against isolation teams, got great one-on-one work from veteran guard Jrue Holiday, who matched up with Kyrie Irving on Sunday.
The 6-foot-3 Holiday made life tough on the Nets guard, holding him to just 8-of-21 shooting, including 2 for 8 from beyond the arc. Irving still had 20 points but registered just six assists and four turnovers in the loss.
As for Brooklyn’s defense, head coach Steve Nash, who opted to guard Giannis one-on-one rather than smother him in help on Sunday, will tweak his approach for Tuesday’s tilt, knowing he can’t allow the reigning MVP to get into a flow offensively.
Sunday’s game was entertaining but didn’t have the defensive intensity many expected from a postseason dress rehearsal. With fresh game film and both teams tightening the bolts, Round 2 between these “Beasts of the East” will have that playoff-style intensity.
PREDICTION: Under 240.5 (-110)
Player prop pick
Harris finished Sunday’s loss to Milwaukee with only five points and a single make on five shots from 3-point land. The Nets are counting on more of a contribution tonight.
Harris had a great April for Brooklyn, averaging 14.6 points on 51.5 percent shooting overall. He scored 20 points with 5-of-7 shooting from the perimeter in the first meeting with the Bucks back in January.
Sunday’s 1-for-5 day from distance was one of his worst shooting performances of the year, but Harris has a habit of bouncing back with a hot hand the following contest.
PREDICTION: Joe Harris points Over 12.5 (-110)
Nets vs Bucks betting card
- Brooklyn +1.5 (-110)
- Under 240.5 (-110)
- Joe Harris points Over 12.5 (-110)
Picks made on 5/04/2021 at 9:12 a.m. ET
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