The Bucks host the Pacers in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday in Game 2! The Bucks got off to a hot start in Game 1 and enter Game 2 with a 1-0 lead. The Pacers now have a chance to even the series before heading to Indianapolis. We now continue our NBA odds series with a Bucks-Pacers prediction and pick.

The Pacers had the Bucks number this season, going 4-1 in their meetings in the regular season. However, the Bucks have the playoff experience and blew out the Pacers in Game 1 at home of their playoff series. They also did it without Giannis Antetokounmpo who has been out due to a calf injury. The Pacers could not get any shots to fall in the game highlighted by missing 30 three-pointers. They need more from Tyrese Haliburton who did not score in double figures and instead, the leading scorer was Pascal Siakam. Haliburton is the key for them and does everything they ask and could be a massive difference maker in Game 2. The Pacers need more offensive production overall because they could not do much in this game.

The Bucks and their playoff experience won out very easily against a younger Pacers team. They did not have Giannis Antetokounmpo available, but it did not matter. Damian Lillard scored 35 points all in the first half and then Khris Middleton was not far behind with 23. The key was efficiency where the Bucks shot close to 50% from the entire field. There are no concrete details just yet on if Giannis will be available for Game 2, but it could be safe to assume that he misses at least one more game and is available in Game 3 due to his status for Game 1 officially being listed as ‘Doubtful.'

Here are the NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NBA Playoffs Odds: Pacers-Bucks Game 2 Odds

Indiana Pacers: +1.5 (-112)

Moneyline: +100

Milwaukee Bucks: -1.5 (-108)

Moneyline: -118

Over: 222 (-110)

Under: 222 (-110)

How to Watch Pacers vs. Bucks Game 2 

Time: 8:30 pm ET

TV: NBA TV

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Pacers Could Cover The Spread/Win

The Pacers were the high-scoring team in the NBA this season, averaging 123.3 points per game on the season. In the postseason, the Pacers scoring offense plummeted and after one game they are 12th out of 16 teams with 94 points and in field goal percentage at 39.6%. Seven different Pacers players average over double digits with Pascal Siakam leading the way at 21.3 points per game with Haliburton just behind him at 20.1 points per game. Haliburton led the entire NBA in assists at 10.9, and he only had eight assists. When the Pacers get hot on offense they are as good as any team in the league and are very tough to beat we have seen it all season. The Bucks made this offense uncomfortable and something needs to change heading into Game 2 because the Pacers struggled across the board.

The defense for the Pacers has struggled. They were the third-worst scoring defense in the NBA, allowing 120.2 points per game. They were also second to last in field goal percentage defense, allowing 49.6% from the field. In the postseason, they have allowed 109 points and 47.1% from the field in their Game 1 loss. The Pacers had four players average at least 0.9 steals per game this season with Haliburton leading the way at 1.2 per game. Two Pacers average at least one steal per game with Myles Turner leading the way at 1.9 per game.

Why The Bucks Could Cover The Spread/Win

The Bucks had a roller coaster of a season despite finishing third in the Eastern Conference. They were led by their offense and were the fourth ranked scoring offense, averaging 119 points per game. They were also seventh in field goal percentage with 48.7% from the field and 11th from three-point percentage at 37.3% from behind the arc. That offense caught fire with 109 points and 47.1% from the field in Game 1. When he's available, Giannis is their best player and leads the team in scoring, but assuming he's out, Lillard will be the leading scorer and that showed up after he scored 35 in the first half alone of Game 1. Expect Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis to also be key after they were the second and third leading scorers behind Lillard.

The defense for the Bucks needs more work and has fallen off a bit this season. They were 21st in scoring defense, allowing 116.4 points per game. They are also 14th in total field goal percentage in the NBA at 47%, and then they are ninth in three-point percentage defense, allowing 35.6% from behind the arc. Their defense came up big in Game 1 where they allowed 94 points and and 39.6% from the field overall. Three Bucks average at least 0.9 steals per game with Lillard leading at one steal per game if Giannis remains out. Brook Lopez then leads the Bucks in blocks per game at 2.4 per game. Missing Giannis on defense would be huge for a second straight game.

Final Pacers-Bucks Prediction & Pick

Based on the way Game 1 went, it might not matter that much that the Bucks don't have Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Pacers are going to adjust, but the Bucks are the better team and have the home-court advantage. The Pacers will be able to find some offense, but the Bucks have a great offense too, and can go basket for basket. This game should be much closer, but the Bucks should win and head to Indiana up 2-0 thanks in large part because of Damian Lillard and their experience in the postseason winning out.

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Final Pacers-Bucks Prediction & Pick: Bucks -1.5 (-108)