- Even with James Harden ruled out, the Brooklyn Nets are slight -120 favorites in Game 2.
- The Milwaukee Bucks have EVEN odds as 1.5-point underdogs in the game.
- The Nets were 19-17 in their games without Harden this year.
BROOKLYN – The Brooklyn Nets will host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals as they look to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Nets will be without James Harden due to a hamstring injury and were only 19-17 without him in the lineup this season. Brooklyn is still favored in the game.
Can Milwaukee Take Advantage?
All things considered, this should be the best chance Milwaukee will have to win a game in this series barring any further injuries. Harden has proved to be arguably the most important piece to the team as the Nets are barely above .500 without him this season.
However, it’s not like Brooklyn is lacking in talent as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving still exist and will likely both see their usage go way up in Harden’s absence.
Being without one of their stars is nothing new for the Nets, and could be why the team is still the betting favorite on online sportsbooks.
Brooklyn Nets vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Odds
- Moneyline: BKN -120, MIL EVEN
- Spread: BKN -1.5
- Total: O/U 234.5
Brooklyn took home Game 1 with an eight-point win despite not scoring a single point in the last three minutes and 40 seconds of the game. NBA bettors could take this either as the offense could continue to struggle in Game 2 or as even with a fluke offensive performance the Bucks weren’t good enough to win.
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Betting The Total
As one might expect, the Nets offense is not as electric with Harden off the court. Not only does the team’s offensive rating drop from 121.0 to 117.6, but the defensive rating drops from 115.9 to 112.7. This means that when Harden is off the court the Nets both score and allow fewer points, which may give the Under some betting value.
Brooklyn Nets vs Milwaukee Bucks Total Odds
- Over 234.5 -110
- Under 234.5 -110
Harden’s impact on the game has been even more profound in the postseason. The team’s offensive rating dips to 111.9 without Harden on the floor in the playoffs from the 135.6 mark with him.
None of the Bucks’ games have gone north of this mark in the playoffs and there isn’t much reason to believe that this game would be the first after considering the circumstances.
How To Watch
Game 2 between the Nets and Bucks is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. EST with coverage available on TNT.
Nick got involved with the world of sports at a young age and never turned his back on it. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Broadcast/Journalism. In his free time, you can catch him at the bottom of the leaderboards on any video game he’s playing.
