NBA Playoff Betting July 1 – Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks Game 5

Written by:
Phil Simon
Published on:
Jul/01/2021

The Milwaukee Bucks wasted a glorious opportunity to take a big lead in the Eastern Conference final losing Game 4 to the Atlanta Hawks, who played without leading scorer Trae Young. Now it looks like the Hawks will get the same sort of chance. The injuries have racked up at an alarming rate this postseason with big-name players involved. The Bucks lost two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in the second half of Tuesday’s game with a hyperextended knee and they weren’t the same afterwards getting run out of the building in a 110-88 setback that squared the series at 2-2. With each team’s star player dealing with an ailment the Bucks hit the board as a slight 2-point home favorite for Game 5.

Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks
Date and Time: Thursday, July 1, 2021, 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Opening NBA Odds: Milwaukee -2, O/U 218
Hawks at Bucks TV Coverage: TNT

Odds Analysis

Give the Hawks credit for stepping up in Game 4 without Young. They closed as an 8.5-point dog and led the entire game building the advantage to as many as 25 points. They displayed a balanced scoring attack with six players reaching double figures, but it was their defense that stood out. They held Milwaukee to 39 percent shooting from the floor and 21 percent from three-point range while forcing 15 turnovers. Taking nearly 30 points per game out of the lineup forces a team to adjust and the Hawks did just that. Now it’s time for the Bucks to rally around their injured superstar. They went limp when Giannis got hurt and it wasn’t a total surprise. Obviously they were more concerned about the health of their teammate experiencing a huge letdown in the aftermath. The total for Game 4 tumbled to 216 and teams still cashed the UNDER for a third straight time. We saw the number for Game 5 wagered down to 215.5 after hitting the board at 218.

Atlanta Hawks

Needing everyone to contribute and make up for the absence of Young the Hawks received a stellar performance on Tuesday. The biggest contributor was Lou Williams, who got the starting nod. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year started for the first time in the postseason scoring 21 points with eight assists. It wasn’t a complete surprise to see the Hawks play as disciplined as they did. “The guys that are stepping into those roles and getting those opportunities, we just tell them to say in their lane. We don’t need them to try to be that player that is out; play your game,” Nate McMillan said.

We have no update on the status of Young, who was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his foot following Game 3. And this is the most important game of the year for the Hawks. They channeled the emotion of playing without Young in Game 4, but that will wear off on Thursday. And they can expect the Bucks to come out with a renewed sense of urgency. Just when it looked like the Hawks were done, they revived their chances and now they can take the series lead. Young is listed as questionable ahead of Game 5, but the Hawks feel an awful lot better about themselves after dominating Game 4.

Milwaukee Bucks

It’s Milwaukee’s turn now to rally around their fallen teammate. While Antetokounmpo hasn’t been ruled out of Thursday’s game, the injury was scary enough to think he won’t play. Whether he takes the floor or not the Bucks will need Khris Middleton to step up. Other than his outburst in Game 3 when he scored 38 points and hit 6 of 12 three-pointers, Middleton has been quiet in the series. And that’s saying something for a guy averaging nearly 23 points this postseason. Middleton followed up his outburst with a clunker scoring just 16 points and missing all seven triples on Tuesday. Outside of his Game 3 effort Middleton is shooting 8.7 percent from distance.

Giannis has been the only consistent scorer this series. Jrue Holiday has experienced bouts of inconsistency as well. But there’s no denying the fact that the Bucks can win without Antetokounmpo. They had a winning record during the regular season when The Freak was sidelined and the rest of the roster is certainly capable. And while they’ve played some close games at home the Bucks have pulled through going 6-1 SU and 4-3 ATS at Fiserv Forum.

Bet Hawks at Bucks at BookMaker.eu

Much like the Hawks did in Game 4, I expect the Bucks to come to the aid of Antetokounmpo. and we’ve yet to see the dynamic offense that led the NBA with over 120 points per game during the regular season. We got a glimpse of that in Game 2 and again in Game 3 and if Middleton and Holiday pit it together at the same time the Bucks are pretty good.

NBA Score Prediction: Bucks 117, Hawks 110

Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.

- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com

Gambling News

Say No to Sportsbook Blacklist

Since Gambling911.com revealed that seven sportsbooks had gotten together to share player information, everybody in the industry is talking.

How to Withdraw Funds From Online Casinos?

Navigating the world of online gambling, especially when it comes to withdrawing your winnings, can seem daunting at first. However, with the right knowledge and understanding, the process can be smooth and secure.

Syndicate