The Phoenix Suns will battle the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals starting Tuesday night. The Suns are consensus 5.5-point favorites in Game 1, a number higher than you might expect at first glance.
That’s because the status of Bucks franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo is questionable with a knee injury. The best player on either side, Antetokounmpo’s status will heavily impact the line for each game.
It looks like he’ll play at some point in the series, but the situation is fluid. With Antetokounmpo hobbled, at the very least, the Suns are currently clear favorites to win the series.
With that said, the Bucks performed admirably without their star in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Hawks. Down Antetokounmpo for the final two games of the series, Milwaukee won both games by an average of 10 points.
However, context is crucial: Trae Young missed one of those games for Atlanta and was limited in the other. And, in an NBA Playoffs that’s largely defined by injuries, the Suns are fully healthy.
Chris Paul missed a few Western Conference Finals games due to COVID-19. But he appears to be at full strength now, and the Suns have been the most consistent team in these playoffs. They’ve beaten the Lakers, Nuggets and Clippers to get to this point.
The Bucks, meanwhile, had some fortunate injury luck with their opponents before Antetokounmpo went down. They’ve beaten the Heat, the Nets (without Kyrie Irving and an extremely limited James Harden) and the Hawks.
Usually, we have a very good idea of what the NBA Finals matchup might be months in advance. And while neither of these teams would be considered a ‘Cinderella,’ these have been the most wide-open playoffs in quite a while.
Here are the NBA odds for Bucks vs. Suns, followed by promos at Illinois online sportsbooks.
2021 NBA Finals odds
Check out the best Bucks vs. Suns odds at Illinois sportsbooks:
Bucks vs. Suns promotions at Illinois sportsbooks
While you can’t sign up for Illinois sportsbooks online anymore, those who already have accounts can take advantage of some NBA Finals promotions and boosts.
Here are some of the best offers we’ve found.
DraftKings promo
At DraftKings in Illinois, users can get a significant boost on the Suns Game 1 moneyline odds.
Right now, Phoenix is a 6-point favorite at DraftKings and -235 on the moneyline. But DraftKings is boosting those moneyline odds to +100 for all customers.
For a maximum $25 bet, people can win $25 if the Suns win outright. While it’s not a no-brainer, beating the actual line by that many points is generally a good strategy.
DraftKings has offered this boost frequently throughout the playoffs, and perhaps Game 1 won’t be the last time.
BetRivers specials
BetRivers Illinois has a couple of “house special” odds boosts for Game 1.
Here’s what BetRivers is dishing out:
- Devin Booker and Khris Middleton to lead their team in scoring (-112)
- Suns to score over 30.5 points during the fourth quarter (+140)
- Chris Paul to record a 20+ point double-double (+245)
FanDuel
At FanDuel Sportsbook in Illinois, there are a few promos from which to choose.
Get $300
First, there is a “Taco Bell 2021 NBA Finals Comeback Bonus.” It requires you to place a moneyline wager of at least $25 before the game. If the team you bet on is behind at halftime but comes back to win, FanDuel will give you $10 in site credit.
Existing users can also place a three-plus leg parlay on any NBA Finals game, and they’ll get $10 in site credit if their wager loses.
Finally, an offer only for new users: FanDuel is also offering “NBA Playoffs Enhanced Odds” for new customers.
Bet $5 on the NBA Finals moneyline on any game, and you’ll receive +3,000 odds. To sign up in IL, visit FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing in Collinsville.
