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J-Will: Nets are done if Kyrie and Harden can’t return from injuries (2:14)
Jay Williams says the Nets are in a world of trouble vs. the Bucks with Kyrie Irving and James Harden suffering injuries. (2:14)
1:51 PM ET
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David PurdumESPN Staff Writer
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- Joined ESPN in 2014
- Journalist covering gambling industry since 2008
Injuries to Kyrie Irving and James Harden have flipped the odds on the Brooklyn Nets-Milwaukee Bucks’ Eastern Conference playoff series, putting sportsbooks in a unique position where the current favorite to win the NBA title is now an underdog in the conference semifinal round.
The Bucks tied the series 2-2 with a 107-96 victory Sunday over the Nets in Game 4. Irving left the game and did not return after suffering an ankle injury in the second quarter, and Harden has not played since injuring his hamstring early in Game 1.
With the uncertain status of the two Nets stars, sportsbooks have made Milwaukee the favorite to win the series. The Bucks are as high as -150 favorites in the series, with Brooklyn sitting around +120 underdogs.
But the Nets remain the favorite to win the Eastern Conference and NBA championship. At Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, Brooklyn is +155 to win the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Bucks at +175, and +260 to win the NBA title, ahead of the Utah Jazz at +325.
“The philosophy is if they can overcome the injuries in the short term against the Bucks, they will be well-placed long term to win the conference and championship,” Jason Scott, vice president of trading for BetMGM, told ESPN. “However, if they both are ruled out long term, those futures markets will change. It’s very fluid right now.”
At Caesars/William Hill, the Nets were commanding -440 favorites over the Bucks after winning the first two games of the series. A week later, they’re injury-riddled underdogs.
Nets coach Steve Nash said after Sunday’s game that X-rays on Irving’s ankle were negative, but the star guard’s availability for Tuesday’s Game 5 is uncertain. Harden also is questionable for Tuesday’s game in Brooklyn. Harden has been doing on-court work in recent days, according to Nash, but his availability for Game 5 was unknown as of Sunday.
The Bucks have been installed as three-point favorites in Game 5.
Jeff Sherman, who oversees NBA odds for the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, expects the Game 5 line to move closer to pick ’em if Harden were to be cleared to play.
“We’re expecting to see Milwaukee money, especially if those guys get announced out,” Sherman said.
