The pre-season favourites to win the Eastern Conference are a game away from being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks can end the Boston Celtics’ season with a win on their home floor on Wednesday night.

NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Things certainly fell apart in a hurry for the C’s. Boston swept Indiana in the first round and blew out Milwaukee as an 8-point road underdog in Game 1 of this series. The Celtics have lost three consecutive times with two of those losses coming as home favourites.

Sports Interaction lists the Bucks as 9-point faves in Game 5 and -425 on the moneyline to win the Wednesday’s contest outright. Those odds imply an 81 percent probability the Greek Freak and Co. finish off the Celtics in Game 5.

One positive trend to consider for Boston backers: Brad Stevens’ group has outscored the Bucks by five or more points in each first quarter in the series. Overall, the Celtics own a +27 point differential in the first quarters of games in the series. Sports Interaction lists Boston as a +185 moneyline underdog for the first frame in Wednesday’s game.

One more prop to think about in this matchup: the Bucks team over/under line at 113.5. Milwaukee is averaging 112.3 points per game in the series, but has scored 123, 123 and 113 points over the last three games. It seems like the Bucks have cracked the C’s defence.

Boston Celtics

The talk following the disappointing result in Game 4 was all about Kyrie Irving. The soon-to-be free agent could have played his last game at the TD Garden as a member of the Boston Celtics.

The All-Star point guard is shooting just 30.6 percent from the field over the last three games. Those numbers represent a huge contrast compared to his Game 1 performance when he was hitting impossible shots from everywhere on the floor.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have a 50-year history in the NBA but there hasn’t been a lot of winning. One more win against the Celtics, and Milwaukee will be in an Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2001.

The club’s impressive dismantling of the Celtics paired with the Golden State Warriors struggles against the Houston Rockets has some pundits wondering if Milwaukee is the team to beat in the playoffs.

TNT pundit Charles Barkley predicted Giannis and Co. will win the world championship this spring. First step is taking care of business against the Celtics on Wednesday night.

CELTICS

Away

109

BUCKS

Home

117

Score
Predictions

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