2021 NBA Finals Betting Odds Preview

The NBA Finals tip off in Phoenix on Tuesday night as the Phoenix Suns try to win their first NBA title in franchise history while the Milwaukee Bucks will go after their first championship since 1971.

In Game 1, the Suns are a 5.5-point home favorite at Bovada Sportsbook. This could change leading up to game time depending on the status of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. He missed the Bucks’ last two games in the Eastern Conference final due to a hyperextended knee and has been declared day to day for the series opener against the Suns.

When Antetokounmpo was out, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday stepped up for Milwaukee, and they’ll need to deliver big in the Finals if he remains out.

Suns favored in both Game 1, series odds

With Antetokounmpo’s status for the series up in the air, the Suns are also series favorites at Bovada at -170. The Bucks check in as a +150 series underdog.

Through their playoff run, the Suns are 12-4 straight up and 11-5 against the spread. For totals bettors, they’ve posted a 9-7 UNDER record. At home in the playoffs, the Suns are 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS, which includes winning five of their last six SU. They have been favored in 10 games during the playoffs and have gone 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS.

Milwaukee is 12-5 SU and 10-7 ATS in the playoffs. For totals bettors, the Bucks have gone 10-6-1 UNDER. On the road, they are a mediocre 5-4 SU and ATS in the postseason. Milwaukee has performed well as an underdog in the playoffs with three straight wins SU and ATS, and a 3-1 SU and ATS mark overall.

Suns, Bucks have gone OVER in last 4

The Suns and Bucks met up twice during the regular season and both matchups were nail-biters. Back on February 10, the Suns edged the Bucks 125-124 as a 4-point home underdog. They met up again in Milwaukee on April 19 and Phoenix pulled out a 128-127 overtime win as a 3-point road underdog. Both games went OVER the posted total and the last four matchups between Milwaukee and Phoenix have all gone OVER.

Including this season, the Suns have won three in a row SU and ATS against Milwaukee and they’re 5-1 SU in the last six meetings. In their last seven games against the Bucks, the Suns are a profitable 6-1 ATS.