After dropping the first two games, the Milwaukee Bucks will look to get back into the series when they battle the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup in the 2025 NBA playoffs on Friday. Indiana is coming off a 123-115 win on Tuesday as six Pacers scored in double-figures, including 17 from Andrew Nembhard and 16 from Aaron Nesmith. The Pacers (50-32), who have won 10 of their last 12 games, were 20-20 on the road this season. The Bucks (48-34), who entered the postseason on an eight-game winning streak, were 27-14 on their home court.
Tipoff from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is set for 8 p.m. ET. Indiana has dominated the playoff series with Milwaukee, winning 12 of 16 all-time meetings. The Bucks are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Bucks vs. Pacers odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 230.5. The Bucks are -220 on the money line (risk $220 to win $100), while the Pacers are +182 (risk $100 to win $182). Before making any Pacers vs. Bucks picks, make sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters the first full week of the 2025 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 156-116 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It is also 22-11 (67%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has simulated Bucks vs. Pacers 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Pacers vs. Bucks:
- Pacers vs. Bucks spread: Milwaukee -5.5 at DraftKings
- Pacers vs. Bucks over/under: 230.5 points
- Pacers vs. Bucks money line: Milwaukee -220, Indiana +182
- IND: The Pacers have hit the money line in 42 of their last 59 games (+34.80 units)
- MIL: The Bucks have hit the team total over in 18 of their last 24 home games (+11.05 games)
- Pacers vs. Bucks picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Pacers vs. Bucks streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Bucks can cover
Power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dominant so far in the series. In Game 2, he poured in 34 points, while grabbing 18 rebounds and dishing out seven assists in 40 minutes. He had another MVP-type regular season, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in 34.2 minutes. He also has played well against Indiana during the regular season in 2024-25, averaging 30 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals in four games.
Point guard Damian Lillard returned to the lineup in Game 2 after missing a good chunk of time due to a DVT in his right calf. In 37 minutes of action on Tuesday, he scored 14 points, while dishing out seven assists and grabbing three rebounds. In a 126-119 win over the Pacers on March 15, he registered a double-double with 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out eight assists. In four regular-season games against Indiana, he averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 36.8 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Pacers can cover
Power forward Pascal Siakam continues to power the Indiana attack. He registered a double-double in Tuesday’s win, scoring 24 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds, making three steals and dishing out three assists. In Game 1, he poured in 25 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out two assists, blocked one shot and made one steal in 33 minutes. He has played well against Milwaukee all season, and in four games, averaged 24 points, 8.5 rebounds and three assists. In 78 regular-season starts, he averaged 20.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 32.7 minutes.
Also helping lead Indiana is Wisconsin native Tyrese Haliburton, who went to high school about 100 miles north of Milwaukee. He has registered back-to-back double-doubles, including a 21-point, 12-assist and five-rebound effort in Game 2. He had 10 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in the series opener. In 73 regular-season starts, he averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.6 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Pacers vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine’s model has simulated Bucks vs. Pacers 10,000 times and is leaning Under the total, projecting 223 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks.
So who wins Pacers vs. Bucks, 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 to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
