Bucks vs. Pacers odds, score prediction, time: 2024 NBA playoff picks, Game 5 best bets from proven model

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The shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks will look to stave off elimination when they battle the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup on Tuesday in the 2024 NBA playoffs. The third-seeded Bucks (49-33), who won the Central Division title, will likely be without two of their top players due to injury. Power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. Point guard Damian Lillard is also doubtful with an Achilles injury. The sixth-seeded Pacers (47-35), who finished third in the Central, have won seven of nine games against Milwaukee this season, including a 4-1 edge during the regular season.

Tipoff from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. Milwaukee leads the all-time series 118-105, but Indiana holds a 9-3 edge in postseason games. Indiana is a 4-point favorite in the latest Pacers vs. Bucks odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 214.5. Before making any Bucks vs. Pacers picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the third week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 92-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Pacers and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Pacers vs. Bucks:

Pacers vs. Bucks spread: Indiana -4Pacers vs. Bucks over/under: 214.5 pointsPacers vs. Bucks money line: Indiana -180, Milwaukee +149IND: The Pacers are 46-37-3 against the spread this seasonMIL: The Bucks are 3-7 over their past 10 games and are 4-6 ATSPacers vs. Bucks picks: See picks at SportsLineWhy the Pacers can cover

Power forward Pascal Siakam has been lighting up Milwaukee this series. In four postseason games against them this year, he is averaging 25.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, one steal and one block in 39.5 minutes. He has two double-doubles in the series. In Game 1, he scored 36 points, while grabbing 13 rebounds in a 109-94 loss. He followed that up with a 37-point and 11-rebound performance in a 125-108 win in Game 2.

Also having his way with the Bucks is center Myles Turner. The 28-year-old former first-round pick in 2015, is averaging 24.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 blocks. In the 126-113 Game 4 win over Milwaukee, he poured in 29 points, grabbed nine rebounds and added four assists and three blocks. In Game 3, he had 29 points and nine rebounds. See which team to back at SportsLine. 

Why the Bucks can cover

Despite the possibility of having to play without Antetokounmpo and Lillard, Milwaukee still has some firepower in the form of small forward Khris Middleton. In four starts in the series, he is averaging 26.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes. He has registered three double-doubles this postseason. He poured in 42 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 121-118 overtime loss in Game 3, and scored 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out five assists in Game 4.

Center Brook Lopez has also stepped up his play this postseason. He is averaging 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks in the series. In the Game 4 loss, Lopez scored 27 points, while grabbing nine rebounds in 39 minutes of action. He had 22 points, three assists and two blocks in Game 2. He has reached double-digit scoring in each of the last 11 games in 2023-2024. See which team to back at SportsLine. 

How to make Pacers vs. Bucks picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 229 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.   

So who wins Bucks vs. Pacers, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pacers vs. Bucks spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 92-61 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.