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Behind an epic game from Kevin Durant, the Brooklyn Nets stole Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Can Durant do it again Thursday in Game 6 back in Milwaukee to win the series? The Bucks are favored on the NBA odds.

How to Bet Nets at Bucks NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Thursday, 8:30 PM ET
Where: Fiserv Forum
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN app
Radio:com

Why Bet on Brooklyn? | NBA Betting Lines

The Nets were outplayed for three quarters of Game 5 in Brooklyn on Tuesday but rallied to win 114-108 to take a 3-2 series lead. While an injured James Harden made a surprise return from his hamstring injury, the Nets were without fellow All-Star guard Kyrie Irving – who is not expected back in this series.

Kevin Durant had the game of his Hall of Fame career with 49 points on 16-of-23 shooting, 17 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, and two blocks in 48 minutes. Durant tied the game at 91 with two free throws, then put the Nets ahead for the first time since the opening minute with a 3-pointer, and then put them ahead for good with another three 40 seconds later.

For starters, Durant became the first player to score 48+ points while playing all 48 minutes in a regulation playoff game since Kobe Bryant did it on May 13, 2001. The 49 points were a Nets playoff record.

Durant also became the first player in NBA postseason history with at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a game. His 69.6 percent from the floor was the third-highest field goal percentage in a 40-point triple-double in playoff history. Finally, his 49 points were the second-most in a triple-double in playoff history. He’s now scored at least 28 points in every game this series.

“It’s ridiculous what he’s able to do,” Coach Steve Nash said. “We know he’s capable of nights like this, but to do it tonight … we lose [Irving], James obviously is going through his ailments, we’re down bodies, we’re wounded. And for him to have that toughness, that mentality, that’s what makes him one of the all-time greats.”

Brooklyn also got strong games from Jeff Green, who had 27 points in 35 minutes off the bench, including going 7-for-8 from 3-point range, and 17 points and another three 3-pointers from Blake Griffin, before Durant took over in the fourth quarter.

Harden had been ruled out the day before Game 5 but surprisingly played through his hamstring injury, although he clearly wasn’t 100 percent with just five points on 1-for-10 shooting and 0-for-8 from deep. Harden added eight assists and six rebounds across 46 minutes.

Why Bet on Milwaukee? | NBA Betting Lines

The Bucks blew a 17-point lead on Tuesday night and squandered an opportunity to push a short-handed Brooklyn team to the brink. By the time the first half was over, three Milwaukee players had double-digit points. Giannis Antetokounmpo was just three rebounds shy of a double-double. Milwaukee held a commanding 59-43 lead over Brooklyn.

While Milwaukee held an 87-81 lead after three quarters, the Bucks scored 21 points in the fourth. Nets star Kevin Durant, meanwhile, scored 20 himself in the fourth.

Antetokounmpo scored 34 points on 14-of-22 shooting to go with 12 rebounds and four assists in 42 minutes. Though Giannis scored 34, some questioned why the First-Team All-Defensive selection and former Defensive Player-of-the-Year was not guarding Durant down the stretch. Plus, Giannis missed some clutch free throws down the stretch and committed a costly turnover that essentially sealed Milwaukee’s fate in the final seconds of the game — he dropped a pass from Khris Middleton that likely would have resulted in a point blank layup to tie the game at 109 with less than 20 seconds to go.

All told, when the second half ended, the Bucks had been outscored 71-49, with the Nets having shot 64.9 percent from the field compared to 45.2 percent from the Bucks.

“I want to take the challenge,” Antetokounmpo said of guarding Durant in this game. “Obviously, everybody’s gonna have a chance to guard him, but I would love to go into Game 6, to be able to guard him. If coach wants me to do that, I’m ready for it.”

Khris Middleton had 25 points but shot just 8-for-22. He added five assists and four rebounds. He’s averaging 21.8 points per game — albeit shooting just 38 percent from the field — in the current series. Jrue Holiday had 19 points and eight assists. Holiday posted his best scoring output of the series and also ended just two assists shy from posting what would’ve been his first double-double since Game 3 of the first-round series against the Heat. He’s averaging just 14.4 points per game in the series.

Game Trends

Nets are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS win.
Nets are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as a favorite.
Bucks are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.