The 2021 NBA Finals begin on Tuesday evening with a thoroughly interesting matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET in Phoenix. All eyes will be on the injury status of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee, questionable), though there are other matchups of great intriguing, including Milwaukee's analytically-inclined defensive approach against Chris Paul, Devin Booker and a crafty, yet effective, Suns offense.
The Suns are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Bucks vs. Suns odds from William Hill Sportsbook. For Game 1, the over-under for total points is up to 219.5 after opening at 217.5 (see up-to-date odds for every game on our NBA odds page).
SportsLine analyst Larry Hartstein says he expects one team "to have significant difficulty adjusting" and he has identified the right side to back in his analysis below. Hartstein is a blistering 58-33 on his last 91 ATS picks involving the Suns, a stretch that has made bettors more than $2200.
The Suns were one of the best two-way teams in the league during the regular season, finishing in the top seven in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Phoenix is an elite shooting team in every area of the floor and they were also a top-five team in limiting three-point efficiency (35.4 percent) for their opponents during the 2020-21 campaign.
Milwaukee is also a two-way monster, and they have been particularly dominant defensively in the playoffs. The Bucks lead the 2021 postseason with a defensive rating of 105.0 points allowed per possessions. Milwaukee also made a meal of the offensive glass in the Eastern Conference, grabbing nearly 34 percent of their own missed shots when they caromed off the rim.
Hartstein has locked in confident picks for Bucks vs. Suns Game 1. We can tell you he's leaning Over the total, and he's locked in on an alarming 15-1 trend that has him jumping all over one side of the spread! You ABSOLUTELY need to see what it is before locking in any picks of your own.
Who wins Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals? And which alarming trend makes one side a HUGE value? ... Join SportsLine right now to see which side of the Bucks vs. Suns matchup jump on, all from the expert who's an outstanding 58-33 on Suns picks!
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