- The Brooklyn Nets are up 3-2 in their series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
- The Bucks are expected to win Game 6, with -250 odds to do so.
- The Nets are -225 to win the series overall, however.
LAS VEGAS - Kevin Durant put on a show in Game 5 between the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks.
With Kyrie Irving on the sidelines, and James Harden hobbled, Durant was the sole functioning star on the Brooklyn Nets.
He performed like one, playing all 48 minutes of the game en route to scoring 49 points with 17 rebounds and 10 assists as the Nets held off the Bucks to take a 3-2 series lead.
In Game 6, there are questions as to how much rest is necessary, not just for the injured Irving and Harden, but for Durant himself, after playing that many minutes in Game 5.
I’m just going to throw this out there to see what the responses will be.. If your Steve Nash and the Nets, would you sit James Harden AND Kevin Durant in Game 6 because of the heavy minutes tonight, and push all your chips to the center of table for Game 7??
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) June 16, 2021
TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller even considered the possibility of the Nets sitting all of their stars, which seems excessive. Still, there’s a kernel of a point - the health of their stars matters to this franchise, especially in the long term.
As for the online sportsbooks, they think that the Nets have a shot at winning the series, although they are underdogs in Milwaukee.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
- Brooklyn Nets +5.5 (-110)
- Milwaukee Bucks -5.5 (-110)
The online sportsbooks have respected home-court advantage in this series, although it’s worth noting that with Irving in the lineup, the Nets were around three-point underdogs going into Game 4 in Milwaukee.
The absence of Irving - along with the fact that James Harden did not seem to be up to speed in Game 5 - means that the Nets are even bigger underdogs in Game 6 than they were in Game 4.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
- Brooklyn Nets +210
- Milwaukee Bucks -250
It’s odd to see the Bucks being favored at -250 after losing a game like they did in Game 5, but from another perspective, it took an all-time great player playing one of the best games of his life for the Nets to hang on and win.
In that context, it’s a bit easier to see the Bucks as favorites, although -250 does seem a bit steep.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks Series
- Brooklyn Nets -225
- Milwaukee Bucks +185
However favored the Bucks are in Game 6, they’re still not favored to win the series overall. A hypothetical Game 7 would take place in Brooklyn, and would also give the Nets’ stars time to rest and recover.
In a way, the optimal Game 6 outcome for the Bucks could be a close victory - the kind of victory that forces Durant and Harden to play a lot of minutes, thereby potentially diminishing them in Game 7.
This game could be incredibly important for the Nets, because if they win it, they could avoid making some potentially tough decisions in Game 7. This game will also be important for sports bettors across the country, as the Nets are the team with the most wagers on them to win the NBA Finals.
The game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. EST, and will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2.