Celtics vs. Bucks Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The Celtics and Bucks are set to finish a two-game set in Milwaukee on Friday. Boston rallied from a 25-point deficit on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough as the Bucks held on for a 121-119 win.
Milwaukee is a 6-point favourite on the NBA odds with a total of 233.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Boston has looked like a completely different team on the road this season. While the Celtics have a winning home record, they’re 8-16 outside of TD Garden. They’re 1-10 straight up in their last 11 road games and 2-7 SU in their last nine games against the Bucks. Boston hasn’t won in five straight trips to Milwaukee.
The Bucks have been dominant at home. They have an 18-5 record at Fiserv Forum, including a 9-1 record in their last 10 home games. Milwaukee has hit the Over in four of their last five games overall and four of their last five games against Boston. They’re covering the spread a little better at home than on the road. The Bucks are 20-23 against the spread overall, covering in 13 of 23 home games.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have dropped six of their last eight games and plummeted down the Eastern Conference standings to eighth place. Outside of All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, this team has struggled. Boston ranks 25th in team assists, they have the ninth-fewest three-point attempts and the seventh-worst free-throw percentage. Kemba Walker is one of many players that needs to improve. Walker is averaging 17.9 points per game, 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists, all numbers below his career averages.
Brown and Tatum are the driving forces behind the Celtics’ offence. Tatum is averaging a team-high 24.8 points per game, while Brown is directly behind him with 24.7 points. In Boston’s last win, a 112-96 decision over Orlando, Brown and Tatum combined for 59 points, hitting 15 shots from beyond the arc. The Celtics are quickly running out of time to turn things around. They’re still clinging to a playoff spot, but they desperately need a win against Milwaukee to stop the bleeding.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are easily the hottest team in the NBA right now. They’re on an eight game winning streak and have won 13 of their last 14. Over those last 14 games, Milwaukee is averaging 121 points per game and they’re outscoring opponents by nine points. They sit second in the Eastern Conference, thanks in large part to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. In the last 14 games, Antetokounmpo is averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, Middleton is putting up 22P, 7R, 5A and Holiday has averaged 15P, 4R, 5A.
Antetokounmpo is making it hard not to consider him for a third straight MVP this season. He leads the team in points (28.6), rebounds (11.6) and assists (6.4). Antetokounmpo has also been a defensive force. His 1.2 steals per game and 1.3 blocks are both second-most on the Bucks. The one area of improvement Milwaukee needs to work on however, is their perimeter defence. They give up the fourth-most 3-pointers in the NBA. Outside of that, this is a Bucks team that could cruise to the Eastern Conference Finals.
BOS
MIL