Pacers vs. Bucks series odds make massive shift towards Indiana

Just from a seeding perspective, it would seem like an upset if the No. 6 Indiana Pacers were to defeat the No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

However, bookmakers don’t believe that outcome is too far-fetched as the odds continue to shift toward the lower-seeded Pacers.

When the NBA playoff series odds were released earlier this week, the lower-seeded Pacers were a +140 underdog against the Bucks. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Pacers have now moved to even money (+100), with a 50% chance of taking out Milwaukee and advancing to the second round, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Pacers vs. Bucks series odds shift toward Indiana

Why did the odds change? There could be a few reasons.

For starters, Milwaukee backed its way into the playoffs in the second half of the regular season. The Bucks were 30-13 when they parted ways with head coach Adrian Griffin. Under Doc Rivers, Milwaukee went just 17-20 lost its control on the No. 2 seed in the east, and settled for the No. 3 slot.

Milwaukee ended the regular season on a 3-8 stretch.

Secondly, there are injury concerns for Milwaukee star center Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed the final three regular-season games with a left calf strain. Antetokounmpo is expected to miss the start of the series.

Lastly, Indiana had Milwaukee’s number during the regular season, going 4-1 against the Bucks. All five of those matchups were before Griffin was replaced by Rivers, too, with the last meeting on Jan. 3, a 142-130 Pacers’ home victory. Indiana’s high-octane offense averaged 131.6 points per game against Milwaukee.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) averaged 27 points in five games against the Milwaukee Bucks during the regular season. / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Series tips off Sunday

With Antetokounmpo expected to be sidelined for the series-opener Sunday afternoon, the Pacers are currently a 1-point favorite (-116 money line) in Game 1 at Fiserv Forum. If they remain the favorite, it would mark just the fifth time this season that Milwaukee is a home underdog (3-1 ATS).

Indiana went just 21-20 on the road during the regular season but covered 53.9% of those games. Milwaukee went 31-11 straight up at home and 19-21-1 ATS.

Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.

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