Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers NBA Picks & Predictions 1/8/2018

Monday, January 8, 2018

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Milwaukee Bucks head to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to take on the Indiana Pacers on Monday, January 8, 2018. The opening line for this game has Indiana as 2 point favorites.

The Bucks head into this matchup with a mark of 21-17. They are 2nd in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.2 as they are averaging 106.1 points per contest while giving up 106.3 per game. The Pacers have an overall record of 20-19. They currently are 4th in the Central Division. They are averaging 107.3 points per game and surrendering 106.9, good for a point differential of 0.4.

Valuable Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Bucks are 17-16-5 against the spread

The Milwaukee Bucks are 24-13-1 against the over/under

Important Indiana Pacers Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers are 21-18-0 against the spread

The Indiana Pacers are 17-21-1 against the over/under

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

11/21/17 F Mirza Teletovic Lung is out indefinitely

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

09/29/17 G Glenn Robinson III Ankle is out indefinitely
01/06/18 F Bojan Bogdanovic Ankle is "?" Monday vs Milwaukee

Player Spotlight

Khris Middleton comes into this game averaging 20.3 points per contest while playing 37.3 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 5 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 90%. Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 29.1 points per contest in 37.9 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.8 assists per game and 10.3 rebounds per contest for Milwaukee. His field goal percentage is 55% for the season while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Bojan Bogdanovic has scored 13.8 points per contest while playing 31.3 minutes per game this season for the Pacers. He hauls in 3.2 rebounds per contest and has 1.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Myles Turner averages 13.9 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 29.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.5 rebounds per game and 1.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

Milwaukee averages 106.1 points per contest this year, which is 13th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.21 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a unit, which has them ranked 3rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 18th in the NBA. They average 38.6 boards per contest and 23 assists per game, which ranks them 30th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 27th with 13.4 per game. The Bucks allow 106.3 points per contest which is 18th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 39% average from 3-point range, ranking them 26th and 29th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 41.7 rebounds a game which ranks 7th, and they allow 22.1 assists per game which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 15.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 24th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Indiana is 9th in the NBA with 107.3 points per contest this season. They are 4th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 0.41. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 2nd in the league. They are 22nd in the NBA in rebounding with 41.8 boards per contest and 13th in assists per game with 22.7. The Pacers are 24th in turnovers per contest with 13.8. The Pacers give up 106.9 points per game, which ranks them 20th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 25th and 20th in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 23.9 dimes allowed per game and 13th with 42.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Pacers are 21st in the league in forcing turnovers with 15 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bucks are 7th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.3, and their defensive rating of 110.5 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 20th in the league with 95.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 6th. As a team they are 6th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 23rd in the league. Milwaukee is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 7th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Indiana is 24th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 5th in the NBA. The Pacers are 8th in the league in defensive rating with 109.8, and their offensive rating of 110.2 is ranked 8th. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 7th. As a unit they are 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 26th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Bucks/Pacers NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Milwaukee +2

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