Indiana eliminated Milwaukee from the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament last Thursday in Las Vegas before falling to the Lakers in the title game.
The Pacers have had the Bucks’ number this season, beating them twice.
The third matchup is Wednesday, but this time Indiana makes its first trip to Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
In the most recent matchup in Las Vegas, the Pacers outlasted the Bucks, 128-119, as 5.5-point underdogs.
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 27 points and 15 assists, and the Pacers won in spite of missing 26 of 33 attempts from three-point range.
Milwaukee seeks its 11th consecutive home victory after edging Chicago in overtime on Monday, 133-129. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points in the win, but the Bucks failed to cover as 11.5-point favorites.
The biggest story heading into this matchup is the total, which sits at 258.5 – the highest of any game in the NBA this season.
If it closes at that number, it would be the highest over/under in more than 30 years, per Action Network researcher Evan Abrams. The Warriors and Paul Westhead’s Nuggets in 1991 closed at 259.
Indiana is the best “over” team in the league at 17-4 and have combined for 260 points or more seven times this season.
The Pacers held off the woeful Pistons in their first game after the In-Season Tournament championship on Monday, 131-123, marking their fourth victory in the past five games.
Milwaukee, which seemingly played disinterested in its tournament loss to Inadiana, should be motivated to avoid a third loss to the Pacers this season.
The Bucks last five non-covers at home have come as a favorite of nine points or more.
Betting on the NBA?
- Check out the best NBA betting sites
- Read our guide on how to bet on basketball
- Get the latest NBA Championship odds
- Use the North Carolina betting apps
On Wednesday, they are favored by 6.5 points.
Let’s avoid the historical total and take Milwaukee to cover.
Pick: Bucks -6.5 (-110, FanDuel)