SportsJaw
LeaderboardToday's GamesBest BetsLive OddsMake Picks
Login / Sign In
Today's GamesLatest PredictionsToday’s Best BetsLive OddsTeam PredictionsHead-to-Head MatchupsSJ CoinsAbout SportsJawContact UsLogin / Sign In
HomeMatchupsMake PicksLeaders
SportsJaw

The social platform for sports bettors.

Explore SportsJaw

  • Today’s Picks
  • Predictions
  • Best Bets
  • Leaderboard
  • Make Picks
  • Live Odds
  • Team Predictions
  • Head-to-Head
  • Game Briefing

Picks by Sport

  • NFL Picks
  • NCAAF Picks
  • NBA Picks
  • NCAAB Picks
  • MLB Picks
  • NHL Picks

About SportsJaw

  • How It Works
  • SJ Coins
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

© 2026 SportsJaw. For entertainment purposes only. SportsJaw does not accept or place wagers.

  1. Home
  2. NBA Picks
  3. Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers
Tue 3:00 PM ET
Milwaukee Bucks logo
Milwaukee
Bucks120
1-3
versus
Indiana Pacers logo
Indiana
Pacers112
2-2
Final
Team1234T
Milwaukee Bucks30233532120
Indiana Pacers28362721112
NBA · Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers

Your Picks on Bucks vs Pacers

Picks closed
Spread
Moneyline
Total

Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers Betting Picks & Predictions

Game time: December 31, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET

Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Indianapolis, IN

Article updated Dec 31, 6:14 AM EST

Published by SportsJaw Editorial Team

On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks will face the Indiana Pacers in a rematch of their first-round playoff matchup from last season. Both teams have had disappointing

Game outlook

On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks will face the Indiana Pacers in a rematch of their first-round playoff matchup from last season. Both teams have had disappointing starts to the season, with the Bucks at 16-14 and the Pacers at 16-17. However, the Bucks won the second-ever NBA Cup this season, and the Pacers are coming off a big win against the Celtics. The game is scheduled for 3:10 pm EST, with Indiana opening as the betting favorite at -1.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Bucks -110 | Pacers -106

Spread: Bucks +1 (-110) | Pacers -1 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 231.5 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Indiana will win straight-up is 51%.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have faced challenges this season due to injuries and lineup changes, resulting in inconsistent performance. Despite winning the NBA Cup, the Bucks have struggled in their recent games with a 5-5 record in the last ten games. The absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a factor in their recent losses. However, Damian Lillard's return to the lineup has provided a boost, with strong performances from Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton. The Bucks aim to end the year positively with a win over the Pacers, with Antetokounmpo likely to return. Analyzing their performance, the Bucks rank 18th in scoring, 8th in field goal shooting, and 2nd in 3-point shooting. Defensively, they rank 9th in scoring defense, 4th in field goal defense, and 13th in 3-point defense. Key players such as AJ Green, Khris Middleton, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are game-time decisions. With a power ranking of 11, the Bucks have a record of 1-3 this season. Their offensive and defensive statistics are outlined, showcasing their strengths and areas for improvement. For more NBA predictions and to enhance your earnings, consider following our expert analysis.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

Indiana Pacers Analysis

The Indiana Pacers, coming off a successful win against the Boston Celtics, are facing the Milwaukee Bucks with a record of 16-17 in what has been an injury-plagued season. The team has shown improvement recently, winning seven of their last ten games. The Pacers rank 10th in the NBA for offense, 22nd for defense, and have a power ranking of 20. They excel in field goal shooting but struggle defensively, particularly in rebounding. Despite key injuries, the Pacers have shown resilience and are looking to build on their recent success. The team's performance, statistics, and betting opportunities are worth monitoring for fans and bettors alike.

Milwaukee Bucks Defeat Indiana Pacers in Impressive Turnaround

During the previous season, the Indiana Pacers consistently outperformed the Milwaukee Bucks, even during the playoffs. However, in the first meeting of the current season in Milwaukee, the Bucks secured a decisive 12-point victory over the Pacers, surpassing a -4.5-point spread. Milwaukee's previous struggles against Indiana stemmed from the Pacers' fast-paced style of play and their proficiency in making 3-point shots. This season, the Bucks have significantly enhanced their overall defense, especially their perimeter defense, ranking 13th in the NBA in 3-point defense. Additionally, the Bucks rank 11th in defensive efficiency and excel in rebounding compared to the Pacers, who rank 19th in the league. The return of Giannis Antetokounmpo on New Year's Eve will undoubtedly impact this upcoming matchup, as demonstrated by his impressive 37-point performance against Indiana in the previous encounter. In contrast, Haliburton's inconsistent performance has been a contributing factor to the Pacers' previous dominance. Considering these factors, backing Milwaukee +2.5 seems like a reasonable bet.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Unavailable for this preview

Projected winnerUnavailableConfidencelow
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Unavailable

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Unavailable

#MilwaukeeBucks#IndianaPacers

Share this preview

Facebook X Reddit Email
SportsJaw logo
Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw published this archived preview from its original game-day article. Its prediction and quoted lines are preserved as written.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Bucks vs Pacers archived game preview contains historical odds and availability that may no longer be current. View history of past Bucks vs Pacers matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Milwaukee Bucks-110 → -135Moved
  • Moneyline · Indiana Pacers-106 → +115Moved
  • Spread · Milwaukee Bucks+1 (-110) → -2 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · Indiana Pacers-1 (-110) → +2 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Over231.5 (-110) → 229.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Under231.5 (-110) → 229.5 (-110)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

Milwaukee Bucks
1-3 matchup record · 5-5-0 ATS · 4-6-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Indiana Pacers
2-2 matchup record · 7-3-0 ATS · 5-5-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2024-12-31T11:14:20.399Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

The Milwaukee Bucks have faced challenges this season due to injuries and lineup changes, resulting in inconsistent performance. Despite winning the NBA Cup, the Bucks have struggled in their recent games with a 5-5 record in the last ten games. The absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a factor in their recent losses. However, Damian Lillard's return to the lineup has provided a boost, with strong performances from Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton. The Bucks aim to end the year positively with a win over the Pacers, with Antetokounmpo likely to return. Analyzing their performance, the Bucks rank 18th in scoring, 8th in field goal shooting, and 2nd in 3-point shooting. Defensively, they rank 9th in scoring defense, 4th in field goal defense, and 13th in 3-point defense. Key players such as AJ Green, Khris Middleton, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are game-time decisions. With a power ranking of 11, the Bucks have a record of 1-3 this season. Their offensive and defensive statistics are outlined, showcasing their strengths and areas for improvement. For more NBA predictions and to enhance your earnings, consider following our expert analysis.

The Indiana Pacers, coming off a successful win against the Boston Celtics, are facing the Milwaukee Bucks with a record of 16-17 in what has been an injury-plagued season. The team has shown improvement recently, winning seven of their last ten games. The Pacers rank 10th in the NBA for offense, 22nd for defense, and have a power ranking of 20. They excel in field goal shooting but struggle defensively, particularly in rebounding. Despite key injuries, the Pacers have shown resilience and are looking to build on their recent success. The team's performance, statistics, and betting opportunities are worth monitoring for fans and bettors alike.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2024-11-22Indiana Pacers 117 · Milwaukee Bucks 129
Final result

Matchup pick recap

Milwaukee Bucks defeated Indiana Pacers 120-112

Milwaukee Bucks defeated Indiana Pacers 120-112 on December 31, 2024, a 8-point decision in the series. Milwaukee Bucks' strongest period was the 4th quarter, when it outscored its opponent 32-21. Against SportsJaw's recorded Milwaukee Bucks -2 (-110) spread, Milwaukee Bucks covered, while the 232 combined points finished over the recorded total of 229.5.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerNo published selectionUnavailable

Tipster picks

  • CovergirlTotal · Under 231.5 (-110)Loss
  • UncledavidSpread · Milwaukee Bucks +1 (-110)Win
  • KingjamesSpread · Indiana Pacers -1 (-110)Loss
  • ThetotalerSpread · Milwaukee Bucks -1.5 (-110)Win
  • ThetotalerTotal · Over 229.5 (-110)Win
  • Barry713Spread · Indiana Pacers +1.5 (-110)Loss
  • DoclocksTotal · Over 229.5 (-110)Win
  • CoolioSpread · Indiana Pacers +1.5 (-110)Loss
  • CoolioTotal · Under 230 (-110)Loss
  • OddssharkSpread · Indiana Pacers +1.5 (-110)Loss