Bulls vs. Bucks Game 2 NBA Picks: Expect Chicago to Pick Up Where it Left Off

Kenny Ducey

Last Updated: April 20, 2022 2:08 AM EDT • 2 min 58 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is fouled by DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Stacy Revere / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The Chicago Bulls look to even their first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, and we break it down with our top expert picks.

It wasn’t easy, but the Milwaukee Bucks took a 1-0 series lead over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday in what was a very hotly-contested game. Milwaukee led by as many as 16 points early and seemed to be the clearly better team, but it would squander that lead. The Bucks needed a big push late to hold off the charging Bulls.

For three quarters, the Bulls were every bit as good as the Bucks yet a rough first quarter was their undoing. After going down by 13 after one, they outscored Milwaukee by six points in the final 36 minutes. Chicago will aim to steal home-court advantage and head back home tied 1-1.

https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1516202540110692353

Here are my picks and predictions for Wednesday’s NBA matchup between the Bulls and Bucks (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on 1-to-5-star scale).

Bulls vs. Bucks Game Info

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. ETTV: TNTLocation: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

Bulls vs. Bucks Odds

Bulls vs. Bucks Odds Analysis

The line for Game 2 opened at 10 points in favor of the host Bucks, and that is where it sits at most books into Wednesday morning. You can find 9.5 at BetMGM, but that’s about it. Over 70% of the tickets and cash are backing Milwaukee.

In terms of the total, bettors are backing the Over with 55% of the tickets and 88% of the cash. Still, a few lines of 224.5 popped up after the opening of 225, but FanDuel Sportsbook is hanging 225.5.

Bulls vs. Bucks Picks

Bulls +10 (-110) ????Under 225 (-110) ????Nikola Vucevic double-double (-130) ????

Bulls vs. Bucks Predictions

Bulls +10 (-110)

As I mentioned above, the Bulls and Bucks were neck and neck for three quarters in Game 1. Shockingly, this came despite the fact that the Bulls shot just 32.3% from the field and 18.9% from 3-point range. There was not a time in the four regular-season head-to-head meetings that the Bulls shot worse than the 32.3% from the field that we saw in Game 1; even in a low-scoring January loss they managed to shoot 36.0%.

I expect variance to kick in for Game 2, and I can’t imagine a worse shooting night from beyond the arc given the 34.7% shooting we saw from Chicago in its last three regular-season meetings with the Bucks. While I do think Milwaukee wins and maybe even sweeps, I also think we’re getting a bit out of hand with this line.

Had a few of those threes fallen late from Bulls guard Zach LaVine, we might be looking at a different Game 2 line.

Check out our top-rated spor

Under 225 (-110)

Three of the four games these two teams played in the regular season cashed the Under. Game 1 hit the Under as well with a closing total of 230. So, why do I like the Over on Wednesday? Well, I think the pace numbers tell the story.

After a painfully slow game in January, the last three games these teams played went a little differently. Chicago and Milwaukee played to a 100 pace rating once and a 102 pace rating twice. In Game 1, the pace rating stood at 100.5. It wasn’t as if these were unusually slow games, Chicago just struggled a tad on offense in the majority of them.

While that seems to spell disaster, the total has not been this low for a Bucks-Bulls game all season. I also would expect Chicago to shoot just a little bit better than it did in the second half.

Vucevic double-double (-130)

Chicago is going to need center Nikola Vucevic on the floor to compete with big bodies like Bucks center Brook Lopez and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. That’s why we saw him play a robust 38:38 in Game 1. He sure delivered, too, pulling down 17 rebounds to go with 24 points.

Now, this was a tad out of line given what we saw in other meetings between the Bulls and Bucks. Vucevic had tallied only one double-double in those games, but it’s also no coincidence that came in the only game in which he saw more than 34 minutes. Given the extra run, I think Vucevic can get there in Game 2.

The Bucks were a modest eighth by rebounding percentage over the last 15 games of the season and can be had on the glass.

Where to Bet on Bulls-Bucks Picks

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel Sportsbook Caesars Sportsbook DraftKings Sportsbook PointsBet BetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Bulls-Bucks picks made 4/19/2022 at 7:35 p.m. ET.

Written By:
Kenny Ducey

Kenny is a contributor for DraftKings and a former member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He's covered Tennis, Football, Basketball, and Baseball dating back to his time at Sports Illustrated. He's based out of New York, where sports have taken a turn for the worst, yet somehow his support for the Jets and Knicks has not wavered in the slightest.