The Boston Celtics will pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night, pitting Eastern Conference Finals contenders. Tip-off from Fiserv Forum is at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Bucks are 2.5-point spread favorites and the game total is 236.5 points.
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee (54-21 SU and 41-32-2 ATS) beat Detroit on Monday and will play Indiana on Wednesday. The Bucks are 4-1 straight-up in their past five and lead the Eastern Conference with seven games left.
The Bucks won the second matchup 131-125 in overtime at home on February 14. Milwaukee was more efficient from three-point range (42.9%), outrebounded Boston (+8 rebounding margin), and scored 27 points off turnovers. Boston attempted 50 three-pointers but only knocked down 17 of them and failed to take full advantage of the Bucks’ turnover woes (19 TOs).
Boston Celtics
Boston (52-24 SU and 40-35-1 ATS) lost to Washington on Tuesday in DC. The C’s are 3-2 straight-up in their past five games and 2.5 games behind Milwaukee in the conference standings.
The Celtics won the first round on December 25 in Boston 139-118. They shot 58.8 percent from the field, scoring 36 points in the first quarter, 38 in the third, and 39 in the fourth. Boston shot 19-for-39 from long range (48.7%) and outscored Milwaukee 54-40 in the paint.
Boston suffered a disheartening loss to the shorthanded Wizards in its last game, losing by 19 points. Washington was without Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma but rode Kristaps Porzingis’ hot hand (32 points on 14-of-21 shooting) to the upset win as a double-digit underdog.
Tips of the Game
Milwaukee gives up 112.4 points per game on defense (9th), and its opponents shoot 45.1 percent from the field (2nd) with a 34.8 shooting percentage from three-point range (5th). The Bucks are 2nd in adjusted defensive rating and 20th in assist-per-turnover ratio.
