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Bucks vs Pacers Game 3 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

The 2024 NBA Playoffs continue with an excellent 3-game slate on Friday night -- and the first matchup of the evening we'll preview is Bucks vs. Pacers Game 3, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Bucks are 5.5-point underdogs on the spread in Friday's contest, while the total is set at over/under 221.5 total points at DraftKings.

Here's everything you need to know about Game 3 of Bucks vs. Pacers -- the latest betting odds, as well as our expert picks and prediction for the NBA Playoffs on Friday, April 26. Check out our overall NBA odds to get a full idea of the big picture.

Bucks vs Pacers Odds

MIL @ IND Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+5.5 -110 +3.5 -105 +3.5 -104 +3.5 -105 +3.5 -110 +3.5 -108 +3.5 -110 +3.5 -107 +6.5 -108  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-5.5 -110 -3.5 -115 -3.5 -118 -3.5 -115 -3.5 -120 -3.5 -112 -3.5 -120 -3.5 -120 -6.5 -112  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
o226 -110 o113 -110 o113.5 -110 N/A o113.5 -110 o113.5 -110 o113.5 -110 o113.5 -113 o223 -112  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
u226 -112 u113 -110 u113.5 -110 N/A u113.5 -120 u113.5 -110 u113.5 -120 u113.5 -115 u223 -108  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+194 N/A +172 +170 +150 +160 N/A +180 +225  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-235 N/A -215 -210 -220 -192 N/A -240 -275  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+5.5 -110 +0.5 -120 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +3.5 -120 +6.5 -108  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-5.5 -110 -0.5 even N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -3.5 -109 -6.5 -112  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
o226 -110 o109.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A o108.5 -121 o223 -112  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
u226 -112 u109.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A u108.5 -110 u223 -108  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+194 N/A +142 N/A N/A N/A N/A +148 +225  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-235 N/A -176 N/A N/A N/A N/A -190 -275  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+5.5 -110 +2 -105 +1.5 -102 +2.5 -115 +2.5 -125 +2.5 -112 +2.5 -125 +1.5 -103 +6.5 -108  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-5.5 -110 -2 -115 -1.5 -120 -2.5 -105 -2.5 -105 -2.5 -108 -2.5 -110 -1.5 -125 -6.5 -112  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
o226 -110 o56.5 -115 o56.5 -106 N/A N/A o56.5 -115 o56.5 -115 o56.5 -124 o223 -112  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
u226 -112 u56.5 -105 u56.5 -120 N/A N/A u56.5 -105 u56.5 -115 u56.5 -106 u223 -108  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+194 N/A +138 +150 +140 +150 N/A +145 +225  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-235 N/A -170 -190 -182 -180 N/A -186 -275  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+5.5 -110 +1.5 -110 +2.5 -120 N/A +1.5 -120 +1.5 -115 +1.5 -115 +2.5 -124 +6.5 -108  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-5.5 -110 -1.5 -120 -2.5 -102 N/A -1.5 -110 -1.5 -105 -1.5 -110 -2.5 -105 -6.5 -112  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
o226 -110 o56.5 -115 o56.5 -118 N/A N/A o56.5 -110 o56.5 -110 o56.5 -115 o223 -112  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
u226 -112 u56.5 -115 u56.5 -108 N/A N/A u56.5 -110 u56.5 -115 u56.5 -115 u223 -108  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+194 N/A +140 N/A N/A +120 N/A +143 +225  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-235 N/A -172 N/A N/A -142 N/A -182 -275  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+5.5 -110 +1.5 -110 +1.5 -100 N/A +1.5 -105 +2 -110 +1.5 -105 +2.5 -122 +6.5 -108  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-5.5 -110 -1.5 -120 -1.5 -122 N/A -1.5 -125 -2 -110 -1.5 -120 -2.5 -107 -6.5 -112  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
o226 -110 o55.5 -115 o54.5 -120 N/A N/A o55.5 -102 o55.5 -110 o55.5 -114 o223 -112  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
u226 -112 u55.5 -115 u54.5 -106 N/A N/A u55.5 -118 u55.5 -120 u55.5 -117 u223 -108  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+194 N/A +140 N/A N/A +136 N/A +143 +225  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-235 N/A -172 N/A N/A -162 N/A -186 -275  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+5.5 -110 +1.5 -120 +0.5 -110 N/A +1.5 -130 +1 -110 +0.5 even +1.5 -122 +6.5 -108  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-5.5 -110 -1.5 -110 -0.5 -110 N/A -1.5 even -1 -110 -0.5 -125 -1.5 -107 -6.5 -112  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
o226 -110 o55 -110 o54.5 -100 N/A N/A o54.5 -105 o54.5 -105 o53.5 -112 o223 -112  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
u226 -112 u55 -120 u54.5 -128 N/A N/A u54.5 -115 u54.5 -125 u53.5 -120 u223 -108  
Final
Milwaukee Bucks 533 Bucks
+194 N/A +102 N/A +112 +114 N/A +116 +225  
Indiana Pacers 534 Pacers
-235 N/A -124 N/A -143 -135 N/A -148 -275  

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Bucks vs Pacers Picks & Prediction

So, I guess “Dame Time” is only during the first half of playoff games now?

The Bucks were behind the 8-ball from the jump in this series with Giannis Antetoukounmpo sidelined with a calf injury for (at least) the first two matchups – and as of Thursday afternoon, there’s still no clear timetable for his return, as the latest update states Giannis still hasn’t added running or cutting to his recovery routine. So at this point, it’s tough to imagine him returning for Game 3.

For the first 24 minutes of this series, however, it looked like the absence of Antetokounmpo might not be much of a problem for Milwaukee, because it was Dame Time early and often for the Bucks, as Damian Lillard erupted for 35 points on 11-of-19 from the field and 6-of-10 from 3-point range in the first half of Game 1 to give his team a 69-42 lead at the break.

The Bucks managed to hold on for a 109-94 victory in Game 1. But it wasn’t exactly a cakewalk, as the Pacers won the second half by a 12-point margin and Lillard disappeared into the night with zero points on 0-of-5 from the field in the second half – which wasn’t a huge concern heading into Game 2. But at this point, it isn’t a great sign for Milwaukee.

Game 2 was a similar story for the Bucks. This time around, however, Dame’s disappearing act actually costed them, as Lillard went off for 26 points on 58% from the floor and 55% from 3-point range in the first half of Tuesday’s contest, and then took his foot off the gas pedal again down the stretch with just 8 points on 33% from the field and zero successful long range attempts in the second half – resulting in a 125-108 home loss.

However, the most concerning part of the Bucks’ loss in Game 2 was their inability to defend Indiana from all areas of the floor. After shooting just 40% from the field and 21% from 3-point range in Game 1, the Pacers made some key adjustments on offense and completely flipped the script in Game 2, as they shot 56% from the floor and hit 44% of their 36 long range attempts in their most recent outing.

Granted, we should probably expect Indiana’s overall 3-point performance to balance out between their outings in Games 1 and 2. But make no mistake about it, the Pacers are an excellent offensive basketball team – ranked 1st in the NBA in scoring and 2nd in offensive rating – and if you don’t bring the intensity at the defensive end of the floor for all four quarters against Indiana, they’ll shoot 56% from the floor like they did on Tuesday night.

The Bucks are 18-20 since hiring Doc Rivers as their head coach back in January, which includes a 1-1 split in the playoffs – and there hasn’t been much to feel good about during that time frame, especially in the absence of Antetokounmpo, considering they rank 18th in offensive rating and 15th in defensive rating in their last 38 games – and most of those games were played with the 2-time MVP in the lineup.

If Giannis was healthy, this series would be a completely different story, especially given the offensive sparks Lillard provided in the first two matchups. However, if it’s only going to be Dame Time for two quarters per game, and if Giannis is also unable to shoulder the scoring load in the imminent future, the Bucks might be in trouble.

Pick: Pacers -5.5 (-110)

Click this link for picks and predictions for all First Round NBA Playoff matchups!

Bucks vs Pacers Game Time & TV Channel

Date: Friday, April 26
Matchup: Central
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Location: Indiana, IN
Time-TV: ESPN, 5:30 p.m. ET

Bucks vs Pacers Betting Stats

3) Milwaukee Bucks
(1st Place, Central)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +3000
  • Odds to Win Conference: +1000
  • Odds to Win Series: -150
  • SU: 49-33
  • ATS: 35-46-1
  • O/U: 40-41-1
  • PPG: 119.0
  • OPPG: 116.4

Click this link for the latest betting trends and market movements leading up to the NBA Finals!

6) Indiana Pacers
(3rd Place, Central)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +7000
  • Odds to Win Conference: +2000
  • Odds to Win Series: +122
  • SU: 47-36
  • ATS: 45-37-1
  • O/U: 42-40
  • PPG: 123.3
  • OPPG: 120.2

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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