NBA Playoffs expert picks, odds for Thursday: Knicks at 76ers, Bucks at Pacers

Both the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks had a chance to close out their first-round series on Tuesday, but were unable to do so, even as favorites in those games. Now, they both get a second chance on Thursday.

The Pacers are favored by several points against the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Knicks are an underdog against the somehow still-alive Philadelphia 76ers. Will two more teams go fishing, or will one or two Game 7s be set for this weekend?

Here’s a look at the NBA Playoff schedule for Thursday with odds, staff picks and previews.

All odds from BetMGM. Find the best deals on StubHub for tickets.

No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks at No. 6 Indiana Pacers

How to watch: 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Indiana leads series 3-2

Series odds: Pacers -900, Bucks +575

Milwaukee didn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo or Damian Lillard in Game 5, but it didn’t matter. Bobby Portis (29 points, 10 rebounds) and Patrick Beverley (13 points, 12 assists) did their best impersonations of the two fallen stars and kept the Bucks alive.

Is that repeatable, especially on the road? Ehhhh. The odds don’t seem to say so with the Pacers being a significant favorite at home. But Milwaukee’s win bought Antetokounmpo and Lillard two more days and coach Doc Rivers teased a possible return (or was employing a little gamesmanship).

“I think they’re very, very, very close,” Rivers said of the Bucks’ two injured stars after Game 5.

Obviously, if both or even one of those players returns, that changes things. For now, the odds are assuming neither will come back just yet.

The pressure is on Indiana in Game 6, though. This is the Pacers’ last home game in the series and if it goes back to Milwaukee, that would give Giannis and Dame two more days to come back. The Pacers are still in control of this series and are heavily favored to move on (-900 odds to advance with only a 3-2 lead), but it does feel like this is the game Indiana needs.

One key for Indiana in Game 6 will be getting Pascal Siakam going again. He scored 36 and 37 points in the first two games of the series but hasn’t reached 20 points in the three games since. His shot volume has gone down, and he’s just 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) from 3-point range this series. Myles Turner was huge in the last two games in Indianapolis, dropping 29 points in each, but he was held to a series-low 13 points in Game 5. One of them will have to play a starring role for Indiana to advance.

Expert picks for Bucks at Pacers

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No. 2 New York Knicks at No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

How to watch: 9 p.m. ET on TNT

New York leads series 3-2

Series odds: Knicks -375, 76ers +300

The 76ers will have to win this series for it to truly go down in Philadelphia sports lore, but Tyrese Maxey’s seven points in 17 seconds at the end of regulation in Game 5 is an all-timer NBA Playoff moment. To get a 4-point play and then a…