Milwaukee Bucks (57–31 41-47 ATS) at Atlanta Hawks (51-38 48-39-1 ATS)
The Bucks’ supporting cast stepped up in Game 5 without star Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup winning and they can close out the series in Atlanta with a win in Game 6. This Eastern Conference finals game can be seen on TNT.
Oddsmakers have the back-against-wall Hawks as a slight 1-point betting favorite in Game 6 with the total sitting at 216. Even down 3-2 in this series the public has backed the Hawks, as they opened with a PICK in this game and are a 1-point favorite as of Friday.
The Bucks roared back to win Game 5 123-112 after losing Game 4 where the Greek Freak was injured and they only scored 88 points. Antetokounmpo does not have any structural damage to his knee, but is still likely out for the rest of this series.
The Hawks have lost three of the last four games of this series and star Trae Young has missed the last two games. His availability for Game 6 is uncertain.
Milwaukee won and covered the spread in Game 3 of this series but they are still only 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as a road underdog.
Others Guys Go Big
In the Game 5 win with Antetokounmpo out four starters for Milwaukee scored at least 22 points and Brook Lopez really came up big with 33 points on 14/18 shooting. Kris Middleton had a double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds and Bobby Portis and Jrue Holliday combined for 47 points and each was 9/20 from the floor.
The Bucks came out firing in Game 5 where they never trailed, shot 50.5% from the floor, and scored 66 points in the paint holding the Hawks to 36 points there.
Lopez had only scored 40 points in the first four games before going for 33 in the last game. Middleton has scored at least 26 points in two of the three wins for the Bucks in this series while in the two losses he only totaled 31 points and failed to shoot over 35.3% from the floor.
Milwaukee had a great team game without their leader in Game 5 and have to so the same in Game 6. That is easier said than done, especially in Atlanta where they were throttled in the last game in this series.
Overall, the Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games.
Have to Start Better
In the Game 5 loss the Hawks were outscored by 14 points in the first half and they never led in the game. They shot 45.6% from the floor but got killed in the paint and they need to be more aggressive in Game 6.
Bogdan Bogdanovic led Atlanta with 28 points in the Game 5 loss and John Collins and Lou Williams combined for 36 points and Danilo Gallinari came off the bench to go for 19 points.
The Bucks rallied as a team without their leader in Game 5 and can the Hawks do the same in Game 6. Young is listed as questionable for this game and if he can go it would give his team a big lift.
The Hawks have covered the spread in six of their last seven games as a favorite.
The Prediction
This is a tough game to call with the injury issues, but I do not see Antetokounmpo playing in this one. However, the supporting cast really came through in the last game and I think they will do the same in this game. The young Hawks will play better than they did in Game 5 and give the Bucks a fight but Middleton and company will get it done. In a very tight game Milwaukee will come out on top, even on the road, and they will get the win and advance to play the Phoenix Suns in the finals.
PICK: Bucks +1