Hawks vs. Bucks Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

July 1, 2021

by Michael Crosson
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Eastern Conference Finals will resume in Milwaukee this Thursday night with the Bucks and Hawks set to square off for a pivotal Game 5 at 8:30 Eastern time on TNT.

Hawks vs. Bucks Betting Resources

Matchup: Eastern Conference Playoffs
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: Fiserv Forum
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date: Thursday, July 1, 2021
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Bucks vs. Hawks

Subject to Change

Spread: Bucks -2
Money-Line: Milwaukee -130, Atlanta +110
Total: 215

Despite dropping Game 4 in Atlanta by 22 and losing Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a knee injury in the process, the Bucks travel back to Wisconsin for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals as a two-point favorite over the visiting Hawks – marking the smallest amount Milwaukee has been favored by in this series.

After the first three matchups of this ECF series contained over-unders set in the 220’s, the total for Thursday’s event is currently stationed at OU 215.5 – which is roughly the same low bar that was set for Game 4 this past Tuesday (U 216).

The Hawks travel back to Milwaukee tied at 2-2 after blowing out the Bucks in Game 4. (AP)

Hawks vs. Bucks Current Form

After a pair of grueling seven-game victories over heavily favored opponents in the previous round, Milwaukee and Atlanta surprisingly emerged from their respective Game 7’s as the final two teams standing in the Eastern playoff bracket – setting the stage for a somewhat unconventional conference finals matchup.

All that said, the oddsmakers still went all-in on Milwaukee from the jump in this year’s ECF – tagging the Bucks as eight-point favorites in Game 1 while also listing them as a -500 favorite to win the series.

That enormous wager wasn’t looking great after Game 1 too, as Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday combined for an impressive 67 points on 56% shooting across Wednesday’s series opener – but it wasn’t quite enough to fend off Atlanta’s late-game scoring invasion propelled by Trae Young (48 points).

In Games 2 and 3, Milwaukee came ferociously charging back as the Bucks swiftly turned the tables on Atlanta with a pair of commanding double-digit victories in the following two matchups – leaving the Hawks in an extremely tough spot at home in Game 4, especially without Trae in the lineup.

The Hawks already led by double-digits when Giannis’ injury occurred – but after Milwaukee’s superstar suffered a worrisome knee injury in the third quarter of Game 4, Atlanta quickly sped away with an imposing blowout victory to even up this series at two games apiece, leaving bettors with an enormous amount of uncertainty heading into its pivotal fifth matchup in Wisconsin.

Bucks vs Hawks Head-to-Head

Jun. 29, 2021 - Hawks 110 vs. Bucks 88, Atlanta +9, Under 215.5
Jun. 27, 2021 - Bucks 113 at Hawks 102, Milwaukee -4.5, Under 224
Jun. 25, 2021 - Bucks 125 vs. Hawks 91, Milwaukee -8.5, Under 226
Jun. 23, 2021 - Hawks 116 at Bucks 113, Atlanta +8, Over 225
Apr. 21, 2021 - Hawks 111 vs. Bucks 104, Atlanta +5.5, Under 229
Apr. 15, 2021 - Bucks 120 at Hawks 109, Milwaukee -4, Under 236
Jan. 24, 2021 - Bucks 129 vs. Hawks 115, Milwaukee -12, Over 225

The Bucks won two of three matchups against the Hawks during the regular season – with Milwaukee’s pair of victories cruising over the number set for Wednesday’s opener (236.5 PPG), and Atlanta’s lone victory staying under that mark (215 points).

Make note, Young was sidelined for two of those regular-season affairs.

The matchup Trae participated in still resulted in a double-digit victory for the Bucks though, as Atlanta’s primary scoring threat posted dismal numbers from the field in his previous lone outing against Milwaukee – tallying just 15 points on 3-of-17 from the field in the loss.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Atlanta Hawks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 51-37 SU, 49-38-1 ATS, 39-49 OU
Road: 22-23 SU, 22-22-1 ATS, 21-24-1 OU

Despite knocking off the top-seeded Sixers in the previous round, Atlanta (+375) still entered this year’s Eastern Conference Finals as heavy underdogs against Milwaukee (-500).

Those prices were both briefly chopped in half following Atlanta’s thrilling win in Game 1 at Fiserv Forum (-200/+170) – but after rumbling back with two straight double-digit victories in Games 2 and 3, the Bucks (-2000) quickly returned to their pedestal of heavy favorites over Atlanta (+900).

With Antetokounmpo and Young’s respective injury statuses still appearing incredibly vague ahead of Game 5 though, the odds for this year’s ECF have taken another dramatic turn – as Milwaukee (-116) currently heads into Game 5 an extremely narrow favorite to advance past Atlanta (-102).

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 56-31 SU, 40-47 ATS, 45-40-2 OU
Home: 32-11 SU, 22-21 ATS, 24-19 OU

Fortunately, it was reported that Milwaukee’s superstar didn’t suffer any structural damage to his knee on the play – but the Bucks suffered a crushing blow in the third quarter of Game 4 this past Tuesday, as Antetokounmpo got tangled up with Clint Capela on a lob attempt and was forced to make an early exit from the contest.

Even if Giannis can’t make a speedy recovery, I still give Milwaukee a good chance at knocking off Atlanta with two games left to be played at Fiserv Forum down the stretch of this series – and given Young’s vague injury status.

The Bucks (-114) still went into Game 4 on Tuesday as the stand-alone favorite to win the title though – and unless Antetokounmpo’s injury turns out to be virtually nothing, I have to imagine Milwaukee’s (+325) days of being favored over Phoenix (-155) are over.

Key Injuries

Atlanta Hawks

C Clint Capela: Eye - Probable
PG Trae Young: Ankle - Out
PF De'Andre Hunter: Knee - Out
PG Brandon Goodwin: Illness - Out

Milwaukee Bucks

SF Giannis Antetokounmpo: Knee - Out
SG Donte DiVincenzo: Foot - Out

Hawks vs. Bucks Player Prop Best Bet

Jrue Holiday – Over 2.5 Made Three-Pointers (+122)

After going 8-of-16 from downtown in his first two home matchups of this ECF series, Holiday significantly cooled off from that area on the road in Games 3 and 4 – going just 2-of-10 from beyond the arc across his latest two outings in Atlanta.

I’ll take Jrue to bounce back here though – as I expect him to be far more pressing at the offensive end without Antetokounmpo on the floor in Game 5.