Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks - 12/22/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks

Date: Sunday, December 22, 2019

Location: Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI

TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin

Odds/Point Spread: Milwaukee -6.5

Total/Over-Under: 221

Fiserv Forum is the venue where Khris Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks (25-4, 1st in the Central Division) will play the Indiana Pacers (20-9, 2nd in the Central Division) on Sunday. The odds on this matchup have Milwaukee as 6.5 point favorites. The O/U is set at 221.

The Pacers cover 60.7% of the time, having gone 17-11-1 ATS. Milwaukee covers the spread 55.2% of the time, going 16-13-0 against the spread.

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

12/20/2019 Jeremy Lamb SG Groin Expected to be out until at least Dec 22
12/18/2019 Victor Oladipo SG Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 8
12/18/2019 Naz Mitrou-Long SG Ankle Game Time Decision

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

12/20/2019 Giannis Antetokounmpo PF Back Game Time Decision
12/20/2019 Wesley Matthews SG Thigh Game Time Decision
12/19/2019 Dragan Bender SF Ankle Expected to be out until at least Dec 21
12/14/2019 Eric Bledsoe PG Lower Leg Expected to be out until at least Dec 30

Player Spotlight

Domantas Sabonis averages 17.9 points per game in 34.3 minutes per contest. He averages 3.9 assists per contest and 13.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 51% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%. Malcolm Brogdon comes into this contest averaging 18.7 points per game while playing 31.5 minutes per night. He pulls down 4.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is at 93%.

Player Spotlight

Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 31.8 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 12.8 rebounds per contest and 5.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage is 60%. Khris Middleton averages 18.0 points per game while playing 27.7 minutes per contest. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per game and has 3.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pacers allow 104.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 6th and 5th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.2 rebounds a game which ranks 9th, and they give up 22.6 assists per contest which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 12th in the league. Indiana averages 109.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.2 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 5th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 44.3 rebounds per game and 25.1 assists per contest, which ranks them 20th and 10th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 28th with 13.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bucks surrender 107.9 points per contest, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 24.2 assists allowed per contest, and 19th with 45.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bucks are 18th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.3 per game. Milwaukee is 1st in the league with 120.7 points per game this year. They are 1st in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 12.7. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They are 1st in the league in rebounding with 50.9 boards per game and 7th in assists per contest with 25.8. The Bucks are 19th in turnovers per game with 14.6.

Advanced Statistics

The Pacers are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 104.5, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 7th. They are 23rd in the NBA in pace with 99 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 16th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 29th in the NBA. Indiana is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 26th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Milwaukee is 21st in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 29th in the NBA. The Bucks are 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 102.6, and their offensive rating of 114.7 is ranked 1st. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 104.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 1st. As a unit they are 1st in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Indiana +6.5

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