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    Nets vs. Bucks Thursday NBA injury report, Game 6 odds, spread, pick: Kyrie Irving out, James Harden will play; Kevin Durant set at 36.5 points

    Brooklyn looks to eliminate the Bucks in Game 6 of their playoff series on Thursday, but Milwaukee is a solid favorite.
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    What can Kevin Durant possibly do for an encore? The future Hall of Famer comes off arguably the game of his career and one of the best in NBA playoff history to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 3-2 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks. Durant again will have a less than 100 percent James Harden at his side in Game 6 back in Milwaukee on Thursday and again will not have Kyrie Irving. KD is set at a huge Over/Under of 36.5 points, while the Bucks are 5.5-point favorites at William Hill Sportsbook.

    That betting point total is Durant's highest of the season and no shock, really, after his epic 49-point, 17-rebound, 10-assist triple-double on Tuesday in the Nets' 114-108 comeback victory over Milwaukee. Durant played all 48 minutes and was the first player in league history with at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game.

    Durant's 49 points were the second-most in a triple-double game in playoff history, and he became the fourth player in postseason history to lead both teams outright in points, rebounds and assists in a game – joining LeBron James (twice), Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson. Durant was 16-for-23 from the field (a game after going 9-for-25) and that percentage of 69.6 was third-highest field goal percentage in a 40-point triple-double in playoff history. How much can Durant have left in the tank, though? He is +575 to have another triple-double.

    As for Harden, he originally wasn't supposed to play in Game 5 but did – dropping that spread a few points. Harden clearly didn't look 100 percent with that hamstring, rarely running or moving laterally. He finished with just five points on 1-for-10 shooting in 46 minutes. How much will he have left in the tank? There were some out there speculating the Nets should rest Harden for Game 6 and save him for a possible Game 7, but that's not happening. He's set at Over/Under 15.5 points.

    No shock that Irving is out again after how badly he sprained his ankle in Game 4 – it's doubtful he would be able to play in a potential Game 7 on Saturday. What can the Nets expect from Jeff Green in Game 5 after he blew up with 27 points on Tuesday? He's given an Over/Under of 13.5.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 12 rebounds in Tuesday's loss but for some reason was not guarding Durant down the stretch and missed some key free throws and had a devastating late turnover. The Freak, a former Defensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Defensive Team selection, indicated after Game 5 he wants to check Durant more.

    According to NBA.com, Giannis has guarded Durant for just 4:19 of game time in this series and Durant was 3-for-8 for 11 points in that stretch. PJ Tucker has checked Durant by far the most and allowed 62 points on 24-for-49 shooting in 39:44.

    Antetokounmpo is given an Over/Under of 33.5 points for Game 6, which he has topped in three of the five games. For another double-double, he's a whopping -650 favorite with no at +450. Brooklyn is -220 on the updated series line with Milwaukee +180.

    This writer likes the Bucks to force a Game 7. 

    The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it has returned almost $9,100 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $700 on its top-rated picks this season and entered this week of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on a stunning 100-66 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread dating to last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen HUGE returns. 

    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

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