Yahoo Sports NBA betting: Pick against the spread for Bucks vs. Hawks Game 5
Thursday features Game 5 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference finals. The series is tied at 2-2.
All odds via BetMGM.
Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks (-2), Total: 216.5
The Hawks evened up this series at 2-2 with a surprisingly dominant 110-88 win on Tuesday night. The blowout victory was a surprise because of the absence of star Trae Young, who is dealing with a bone bruise in his right foot.
Young is questionable for Game 5, which is back in Milwaukee after the teams split Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta. There’s another injury you should be aware of as well, this one on the Milwaukee side.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP, is listed as doubtful to play due to a knee injury sustained in Game 4. Because of the uncertain status of both Young and Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are slight favorites — just -2 — at BetMGM. The line shifted a half-point in the Hawks' favor overnight and the over/under has dropped a point as well.
The Bucks are 4-3 against the spread at home during the postseason. The Hawks are 6-3 against the spread on the road during the playoffs and 8-6 ATS as an underdog. But this is a difficult game to handicap because of the injuries to Young and Antetokounmpo, so Yahoo Sports’ Minty Bets has her eye on the total, which is 216.5.
Because we won’t know who’s in and who’s out until minutes before game time, Minty feels most comfortable going with the under.
Three of the four games in this series have gone under the total. Only Game 1 was an over.
The under is 10-4-1 in the Bucks’ 15 postseason games. Better yet, the under is 12-4 in Atlanta’s 16 postseason games. That includes a 7-1 mark over the Hawks’ last eight games.
Prop bet we like: Khris Middleton under 15.5 total rebounds and assists (-115)
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