Game: Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Celtics +2.5, Bucks -2.5
Total: 236
The NBA’s top two teams, the Milwaukee Bucks (54-21, 40-29-6 ATS) and Boston Celtics (52-24, 40-35-1), square off at the Fiserv Forum tonight. Boston comes into the game with seven victories in its last ten games, while Milwaukee has a record of 10-3 SU in its last 13.
Boston had won three straight before getting stomped by the Washington Wizards 130-111 on Tuesday. Jaylen Brown had a quiet night with 18 points. Jayson Tatum was the only player for Boston to score 20 or more points. Tatum had 28.
The Celtics have been putting up big points lately, averaging 120.5 points per game over their last 10 games. Tatum and Brown are both having good months, averaging 28 and just under 30 points in March, respectively. Tatum has scored 30 or more in three of his last five games and has a total of seven such games for the month.
The Buck beat Indiana 149-136 on Wednesday night. Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double in the victory with 38 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Jrue Holiday notched a career-high 51 points. Holiday played like a man on a mission, making 20-of-30 field goal attempts and 8-of-10 free throw attempts. Holiday’s 51-point performance was his first game with at least 20 points since March 4, a stretch of 10 consecutive games.
Antetokounmpo had missed Milwaukee’s game on Monday. He came back last night to record his second triple-double in his last five games and fourth of the season.
The Celtics had been playing excellent defense up until their loss on Tuesday, allowing just 99 points per game in their previous three games. The Celtics will undoubtedly need to be strong in their half of the court to keep the Bucks at bay. Boston has the sixth-best defense in the NBA this season.
Ultimately, whether Boston’s Tatum and Brown can outperform Milwaukee’s Antetokounmpo and Holiday will probably determine the outcome of this game. Even though Tatum and Brown have the ability to win any game, Milwaukee’s stars are unquestionably hotter heading into tonight’s game.
After scoring 149 points against the Pacers, the Bucks will be on a high, but they won’t want to play as loosely defensively against a dangerous Celtics team. Milwaukee has won three of its last four games but has allowed 124.5 points per game. The Bucks don’t want this to become a pattern.
Boston is 4-2 SU in their last six against Milwaukee. The Celtics are 7-1 ATS in the last eight against the Bucks. The Celtics are also 8-0 ATS in the last eight against the Bucks in Milwaukee. The Bucks are strong at home where they have won 14 of their last 16 games. In this series, the Over has cashed in 12 of the last 18 games and is 8-2 over the last ten. The Over is 4-2 in Boston’s last six games and 4-1 in the Celtics’ last five on the road.
Join Oskeim Sports today and save 20% on your first purchase at the online store!