Game Details:
Matchup: Bucks vs. Pacers
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 8:00 PM ET
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Betting Line: Pacers -3.5 | Over/Under: 225.5

Key Storylines

No Giannis, No Problem? The Bucks enter Game 2 of this potential playoff series without their two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who remains sidelined with a left calf strain. Without Giannis, the Bucks dropped Game 1 and face an early hole in this best-of-seven series.

Paced by Haliburton: Indiana cruised to a convincing 109-95 win in Game 1 thanks to a strong effort from Tyrese Haliburton and the fast-paced offense that ranked among the top in transition scoring all season. They’ll look to keep Milwaukee on its heels again tonight.

Defense vs. Offense: The Pacers love to push the tempo, but the Bucks — even without Giannis — still boast a top-10 defense anchored by Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday. Slowing down the game may be Milwaukee’s best chance to steal one on the road.

Injury Report

Bucks:
Out: Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), Pat Connaughton (ankle)
Questionable: Khris Middleton (ankle)

Pacers:
Probable: Bennedict Mathurin (hamstring)

Betting Trends

Against The Spread (ATS):
Bucks: 35-44 ATS this season
Pacers: 44-35 ATS

Over/Under Trends:
The total has gone under in 5 of Milwaukee’s last 6 games
The total has gone over in 6 of Indiana’s last 7 home games

Home Court Advantage: Pacers are 28-13 at home this season and have covered the spread in 6 of their last 8 home games as favorites.

Player Prop to Watch

Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) – Points + Assists: 27.5
Haliburton tallied 16 points and 13 assists in Game 1 and could continue to thrive against a Milwaukee defense missing one of its top transition stoppers in Giannis.

Damian Lillard (Bucks) – Points: 28.5
Lillard had 30 in Game 1, and with Giannis still out, expect another high-usage performance from Dame. The over on his points prop remains a strong play.

Prediction & Best Bets

Spread: Pacers -3.5 → With Indiana’s uptempo style and Milwaukee missing Giannis, the Pacers are well-positioned to take a 2-0 series lead.
Total: Under 225.5 → The Bucks may try to slow the game down to offset Indiana’s run-and-gun rhythm.
Player Prop: Tyrese Haliburton Over 27.5 Points + Assists → He’s the engine for Indiana’s offense and should stay productive against a short-handed Bucks squad.

Final Score Prediction: Pacers 112, Bucks 103