Preview and pick for Game 6 of the Bucks/Nets NBA playoff series

Knowing - or at least believing - that that the Brooklyn Nets were going into Game 5 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series without both Kyrie Irving and James Harden, it was presumed by most of us that Kevin Durant was going to have to come up with one of the best games of his life to give his team a chance.

We'll, we got that, and then some.

And that is why the Nets can advance to the East finals with one win in the next two games. The Milwaukee Bucks were very optimistic about their own prospects, and now their best hope might be that Durant - and yes, Harden - might just be plum tuckered out.

With their backs to the wall, the Bucks need some big efforts as they lace 'em up at 8:35 PM ET at the Fiserv Forum. Remember that BetOnline customers have an opportunity to challenge themselves with literally hundreds of props on the game. And as if that's not enough, Odds Boosters serves up explosive payouts on pre-selected parlays, every day of the week.

Let's take a look at the NBA playoff betting odds on Game 6:

Milwaukee Bucks -5.5 (-104)
Brooklyn Nets +5.5 (-116)

Over 220 points -109
Under 220 points -111

To the shock of many, it was announced that Harden was going to be available for Game 5. This came after a team workout that was encouraging, and he went from being out to doubtful to questionable.

But Durant, who's won NBA Finals MVP twice, already had decided that he was going to take the game over. And there is not much to say except that he scored 49 points, with 17 rebounds and ten assists. And the Nets, who still looked somewhat stagnant offensively in the first half, as Milwaukee built a 16-point lead, erupted for 71 second-half points

PJ Tucker, the Bucks' designated Durant pest, was unsuccessful at both ends of the floor, as he went scoreless in 33 minutes.

A big factor in the game was Jeff Green, who came back from an injury during this series, who made seven triples and had 27 points off the bench.

He may be needed again.

A question mark surrounding this game involves how much Durant and Harden have in the gas tank. We know that Durant played 48 minutes the other night, and Harden, with his ailing hamstring, went 46. He was not terrifically effective offensively, as he made one of his ten shots, but as a floor leader, his presence has value.

There was a suggestion by TV commentator (and former NBA great) Reggie Miller that the Nets should sit Durant and Harden for this game, so that they would be more fully rested for an all-in Game 7.

That's not going to happen, but we wonder whether the Nets would have a huge comeback left in them, if that situation arose. Would they conserve their two superstars if things didn't look good? It's a tough call on that one.

But as far as the BetOnline props are concerned, we'll once again go UNDER 51.5 on the combined point, rebounds and assist for Giannis. He's been under every game thus far, and we're okay with the -120 price.

Also, we'll go UNDER 31.5 on the points, rebounds and assists for Harden (at -114). I can't imagine him logging similar minutes (to Game 5).

We're going OVER 2.5 triples on Joe Harris as well. The Bucks seem to have made a special project of stopping Harris over these last few games. Or have they? He has made just four of 20 from beyond the arc since Game 3, but the fact is, on eight of those attempts he was pretty wide open, and on just five of them was he really pressured. At 47.5%, he was the league's leader in three-point accuracy, and some of those shots have to fall sooner or later, don't you think? And Brooklyn needs to spread the scoring around.

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