After an impressive Game 1 between Milwaukee and Phoenix, we’re all set for the second game of the 2020-21 NBA Finals to arrive. With the Suns owning the first night of action, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. will try and even up the series. Will they be able to do so? In this article, we have NBA Finals picks for Game 2 of Suns vs. Bucks in what figures to be a fun contest.
With their strong showing in Game 2, Phoenix is the strong favorite to win Game 2 and take a commanding lead in this series before things go back to Milwaukee for Game 3. Right now, the Suns truly are playing on a different level, looking like the best team in the league. Because of their depth on the roster and the outstanding play of their stars, Phoenix sure has what it takes to bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
In the Game 1 win, veteran guard Chris Paul was downright fantastic, as he scored a game-high 32 points. As you might have been able to guess, Devin Booker was also strong, as the sharpshooter finished with 27 points. Big man Deandre Ayton was a force in the paint for the Suns – which came as no surprise – and he closed the night out with 22 points and a head-turning 19 rebounds.
| Finals odds |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suns Game 2 | -220 | -220 | -220 | -220 |
| Bucks Game 2 | +184 | +184 | +184 | +184 |
| Suns to cover | -106 | -106 | -106 | -106 |
| Bucks to cover | -114 | -114 | -114 | -114 |
Entering the Game 2 tilt on Thursday, Phoenix holds -220 NBA odds, while the Las Vegas Sportsbooks have the Bucks set at +184. This tells you that Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee are big-time underdogs in this one. They’ll have a tall mountain to climb to try and even things up at 1-1. In order for that to happen, the Bucks will need to play near-perfect basketball from start to finish.
So, who will get the job done in Game 2? There’s of course a ton of pressure on the Bucks in this one. To go down 0-2 to Phoenix in the NBA Finals would be back-breaking for them. With that said, Phoenix showcased why they’re the better team on Tuesday evening. Our expectation is that they’ll go on to win once again. Phoenix is our pick. Do you agree? Check out our partners, including Bovada, to get a wager in.
In addition to winning Game 2, will Phoenix be able to cover the spread? That spread has been set at 5.5 points. The odds of Phoenix covering is at -106, while Milwaukee covering +5.5 is -114. Keep in mind, Phoenix won Game 1 118-105, meaning they would have covered with ease thanks to their 13-point victory. Come Game 2, things should be a bit closer.
That’s because Antetokounmpo will likely be much healthier going into this one. The fact that he was able to play in Game 1 was a bit of a stunner. He’s still recovering from his hyperextended knee. When he first went down with his injury in the Eastern Conference Finals going up against the Atlanta Hawks, countless folks out there assumed he had suffered a torn ACL.
That’s how bad things looked for him. Fortunately, there was no ligament damage and he’s been able to battle through his pain to get back on the hardwood. In order for Milwaukee to have a shot in Game 2, Antetokounmpo is going to have to play his best, and not let his knee have a negative impact on him. That’s surely going to be imperative for the Greek Freak from start to finish.
It’s not just Antetokounmpo who will need to be stellar though, as plenty of eyes will be on star player Khris Middleton. In the Game 1 loss, he led the Bucks with his 29 points. Behind strong play of Middleton and a healthier Antetokounmpo, we think Milwaukee will be able to make this a truly interesting game. That’s why we’re actually picking the Bucks to cover.
It goes without saying, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is a lock to record a double-double for the Bucks in Game 2. With his 20 points and 17 rebounds in the Tuesday night tilt, the Greek Freak let us all know that he’s not going to let his knee injury bring him down. While the 20 points were a bit light from what fans were hoping to see, the 17 rebounds certainly were not.
Again, Milwaukee knows just how important this Game 2 is going to be. With Antetokounmpo being the face of the franchise, the pressure is going to be on him to step up and deliver for his team. If he struggles, the national press is going to have a field day on him, stating he couldn’t handle the lights of being in the NBA Finals. We don’t think that should be the case.
Antetokounmpo has -400 odds of posting a double-double. With this, he’ll need at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists or 10 steals in two categories. More than likely, we’d expect him to score 10+ points and add 10+ rebounds. With how good he is, a line of 34 points and 15 rebounds is something that could definitely happen. Antetokounmpo to record a double-double is our pick and we won’t think twice about it.
