It was quite clear Thursday night that the Milwaukee Bucks complimentary players are much better than what the Atlanta Hawks brought with them to the table. So did you enjoy taking in the battle between Bojan Bogdanovic and Brook Lopez in Game 5? With both Trae Young and Giannis Antetokounmpo held out that in essence is what the game turned into with the former leading the Hawks in scoring with 28 points and the latter posting a historical NBA playoffs effort with 33 points on a shade under 78 percent shooting. The end result was a 123-112 Bucks win and cover as 4.5-point favorites per the closing NBA odds at online sportsbooks. The end result now has the Hawks on the verge of being bounced from the playoffs with the understanding that a win in Game 6 back in front of the home crowd will ultimately result in a trip back to the Fiserv Forum for a seventh and deciding game; a test they already passed once by ending the 76ers season the previous series. The betting public pounced on the Hawks at the open and I agree with that sentiment.
Game 6 of the best-of-seven series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks will tip-off on Saturday, July 3, 2021 from the State Farm Arena. Take it in live on TNT at 8:30 p.m. ET. We'll have NBA playoff odds and player props available at BookMaker.eu for this and every game on the NBA Playoffs slate.
NBA Betting Lines at BookMaker.eu
Milwaukee Bucks +1.5
Atlanta Hawks -1.5
O/U 215
Odds Analysis
Linemakers opened Game 6 up at a pick ‘em with the total lined at 215; a bucket higher than Thursday night that saw both undermanned teams soar past the number. It didn’t take long for the betting market to show its hand with the number to beat immediately going in the direction of the team facing elimination. Atlanta is now a 1.5-point favorite and favored to win a game in this series for the very first time. Much could change come Saturday night however. The betting line would certainly swing back in the direction of Milwaukee should Giannis return to the lineup, but that likely won’t occur. However, the Hawks could become an even larger favorite should it be announced Young’s bone bruise will no longer keep him out of action.
Milwaukee Bucks
Have a night Brook Lopez! Milwaukee’s big man became the first player in NBA playoffs history to go for 33 points, shoot 78.8 percent from the field, block four shots and secure a pair of steals. While the night belonged to him, the Bucks also got huge scoring outputs from the trio of Khris Middleton (26), Jrue Holiday (25) and Bobby Portis (22). Once again, a bulk of the damage was done in the paint where Milwaukee outscored the Hawks 66-36. Its dominance down low also allowed for it to win the battle of the boards 47-40 with 14 caroms coming at the offensive end of the court. The Bucks literally had a field day draining 51 percent of their 95 shots taken from the field.
Atlanta Hawks
It was ugly across the board for Atlanta in Game 5. Not a single starter came out of the game with a positive number next to their name in the +/- category. Even Bogdanovic – who went for a team-high 28 points on 10-of-22 shooting – carried a -17 next to his name at the game’s conclusion. John Collins (19) and Lou Williams (17) held up their end of the bargain, but Clint Capela was a major disappointment in tallying just six points and more importantly only eight rebounds. His inability to compete with the Bucks on the glass allowed for Milwaukee to take the early lead and never look back. If Young doesn’t return for Game 6, it’s tough to envision much of anything different playing out in the rematch of the complementarians.
Milwaukee vs. Atlanta Prediction
Seriously, how brutal is it that each team has been forced to go at one another without their superstars in tow? The matchup simply just doesn’t bring the same juice with Middleton and Danilo Gallinari playing the roles of the star attractions. In all honesty, I bet the Bucks in Game 5 and didn’t watch much of the game. I knew it was a spot they simply couldn’t lose in with or without their alpha. I personally don’t think he’ll see the hardwood in Game 6 either. If ever, it’ll be Game 7 but Budenholzer has a buffer game to see what happens. I do however believe Young will be back in the lineup for this game. With that, I’d hammer the Hawks now at this price before it’s officially announced. To put it mildly, Atlanta won’t only be laying a single possession if it comes to pass. When it’s said and done, look for the Hawks to force another Game 7 and have a shot to win this series regardless of whether Antetokounmpo is deemed healthy enough to participate.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
