A rematch of a seven-game first-round series in last year’s playoffs is taking place between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. This time, the Bucks own the home court advantage and are favourites in the eyes of the bookies.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. are -312 chalk to advance to the conference finals at Sports Interaction while the Celtics are paying +210 to pull off the upset.

NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Celtics and Bucks were two of the best bets in the first round. The Celtics went 3-0-1 against the spread (ATS) during their four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers. Milwaukee is 4-0 ATS in this year’s postseason coming off its dusting of the Detroit Pistons.

Boston played under the total in three of four games in the first round, but Indiana was the No. 1 defensive team (fewest points allowed per game) during the regular season. The Celtics’ scoring totals could improve in the second round, but that’s no indication that Milwaukee’s defence isn’t elite.

The Bucks finished first in defensive rating during the regular season and the Pistons shot just 38.8 percent (tied for worst in first round) from the field during the last series.

A lot has changed for the two clubs since they met last post-season. The Celtics have Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward back in the lineup and the Bucks have an elite head coach on the bench.

About 67 percent of bettors are backing the Celtics to cover as 7.5-point underdogs in Game 1 while 53 percent expect the game to go under the 223.5-point total.

Boston Celtics

How do you solve a problem like Giannis? The Greek Freak is a matchup nightmare for every team in the league and he’ll likely be announced as the MVP of the league in the coming weeks.

The Celtics like their chances of slowing down Antetokounmpo with Al Horford. The Boston big man has the lateral quickness and defensive awareness to keep up with Giannis in the halfcourt.

At the offensive end, the Celtics hope Hayward will continue to be a spark off the bench. The former All-Star is finally starting to look like his old self after suffering a gruesome leg break at the start of last season.

Milwaukee Bucks

Khris Middleton was one of the biggest reasons the Bucks pushed the C’s to seven games in the playoffs a year ago. He averaged 24.7 points while shooting 62.7 percent from the field over the seven games.

CELTICS

Away

106

BUCKS

Home

115

Score
Predictions

Matchup