NBA Playoff Betting July 3 – Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Game 6

Written by:
Phil Simon
Published on:
Jul/03/2021

Who would’ve thought that with the leading scorer from each team sidelined with an injury the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks would score the most points in any game of their Eastern Conference final. Well, that’s what happened on Wednesday with Bucks emerging with a 123-112 victory that pushed them one win closer to claiming the conference title and a date with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. The Bucks can clinch the series with a win on Saturday in Game 6, but they will probably be without Giannis Antetokounmpo once again. All signs point to Trae Young returning and the Hawks could use him as they attempt to take this the distance.

Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks
Date and Time: Saturday, July 3, 2021, 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Opening NBA Odds: Atlanta -1, O/U 216.5
Bucks at Hawks TV Coverage: TNT

Odds Analysis

After failing to cover the 4.5-point spread in Game 5, the Hawks hit the board as a slight 1-point favorite for Game 6. Oddsmakers are being cautious with the status of two of the game’s top players still in doubt. There’s a good chance Young is available for Saturday’s tilt and the Hawks would benefit from having him on the floor. They’ll also get a boost from a raucous crowd that was huge in their 110-88 blowout in Game 4. But the Hawks are just 2-3 SU and ATS at home over the last two series. The Bucks would rather not play a Game 7 and in order for that to happen they’ll need to win another road game. The Bucks closed out the Miami and Brooklyn series with a road win covering the closing line both times. They are 4-4 SU and 3-5 ATS in away games this postseason. We also saw a jump in the total after the teams combined for 235 points on Thursday to cash the OVER for the first time in four games. That number hit the board at 216.5, an increase of 3.5-points from the Game 5 closing total.

Milwaukee Bucks

Not having Antetokounmpo to rely on for offense, the Bucks played an outstanding team game on Thursday to grab the series lead. Just like the Hawks stepped up in Game 4 with Young out of the lineup, the Bucks did the same with four starters scoring at least 22 points. While we expected Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday to make an impact, and they did, it was Brook Lopez playing the game of his life that propelled the club. Lopez dropped a playoff career-best 33 points on 14 of 18 shooting and the Bucks made 51 percent of their field goal attempts. “It’s exciting. But it’s obviously not done. We need to bottle that energy and effort we had tonight and do it again in two days,” he said after game.

The Bucks started the previous two games slowly. They never led in Game 4 and had to overcome an early double-digit deficit in Game 3. They wanted to be more aggressive from the outset on Thursday and they succeeded by taking a 30-10 lead in the first quarter and maintaining the advantage throughout. With the three-pointer again a non-factor, the Bucks turned to Lopez and Bobby Portis down low. The two dominated with 55 combined points and the Bucks had a 66-36 edge in points in the paint.

Atlanta Hawks

After playing stellar defense to win Game 4, the Hawks crumbled on Thursday getting abused inside in the loss. You would expect that from the Bucks if Antetokounmpo was in the lineup since he destroyed Atlanta in the first three games. But allowing Lopez and Portis to go off the way they did was almost embarrassing. It was such an abusive display that it wouldn’t have mattered if Young was playing. The Bucks made adjustments with Giannis on the shelf, making an effort to get the ball down low. And the size advantage was noticeable. Atlanta had no answer for Lopez, who missed only four of his 18 shots, most of them from point-blank range. “They were more physical. They hit us in the mouth and we just did not recover,” Nate McMillan said.

Other than their interior defense the Hawks played a strong game. They battled back from a slow start and an early 20-point deficit getting within six points early in the third. But they didn’t have enough in the tank to get over the hump. With their season on the brink the Hawks are hopeful Young is healthy enough to return. He’ll likely by a game-time decision making bettors anxious about Atlanta’s chances of taking this series the distance.

Bet Bucks at Hawks at BookMaker.eu

The possible return of Young and a boisterous crowd will certainly help the Hawks. But the Bucks have to feel good about what transpired on Thursday. And with the chance to close out another series on the road, you know they’ll be ready. I said ahead of Game 5 the Bucks are a good team even without Giannis. They’ll prove me right once again.

NBA Score Prediction: Bucks 115, Hawks 109

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

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