Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 21/04/2022, 19:07  by Joseph King | Modified on 22/04/2022 at 02:07 in Basketball Predictions

The Bucks will look to bounce back from a loss and a pair of injuries to key players as they take on the Bulls in game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs. The Bulls were able to tie the series up at 1-1 with a crucial 114-110 away win as they now look to defend home court in Chicago. Even more damning for the Bucks however, is the loss of Khris Middleton after the three-time all star went down in the fourth quarter with a MCL strain. The injury comes as a huge blow to Milwaukee's hopes of a title defense as the Bucks second leading scorer will miss the rest of the series and could be out as long as the Conference Finals or Finals depending on the severity of the injury. Bucks big man Bobby Portis was also forced to miss the rest of the game with an eye abrasion after catching an elbow to the face from Bulls center Tristan Thompson at the end of the first quarter.

The injury to Middleton has had a significant impact on the series odds. Milwaukee entered the series as massive 1.10 favorites to advance and come into game three at around 1.37. The injury also means that even more of the load will fall on the shoulders of Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Bucks don’t have the deepest roster. Milwaukee will especially need point guard Jrue Holiday to ramp up his scoring in order to make up for the roughly 20 points lost with Middleton out of the lineup. The 31-year-old Holiday is more than capable of being the Bucks second option as the one-time all-star averaged 18.3 points per game in the regular season on a very efficient 50% from the field and 41% from three. This could be a tricky game to call a winner with all the variables but backing Jrue Holiday player props is a good way to attack this game with his likely increased role.