The top dogs in the NBA’s Eastern Conference meet Tuesday night as the struggling Milwaukee Bucks look to maintain their No. 2 seed spot.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are on a mission this season to return to the NBA Finals and win their first championship since 2008.
They enter Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee on a five-game winning streak and are currently 15 games ahead of the Bucks, who are in the midst of their worst slump of the season.
Let’s take a closer look at this nationally televised game (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT) and make a prediction.
Celtics vs. Bucks odds
| Team | Spread | Money line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics | -2 (-110) | -130 | o228 (-110) |
| Deer | +2 (-110) | +110 | u228 (-110) |
Celtics vs. Bucks Prediction
(7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Even though both teams have secured their playoff berths, Milwaukee must keep winning to fend off the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks, both just one game out of the East’s playoff race.
Both teams benefited massively from off-season restarts. The Celtics secured big man Kristaps Porzingis and the Bucks added 3-point shooting with lethal guard Damian Lillard.
Porzingis has added another layer of scoring for the Celtics and contributes over 20 points per game, helping the Celtics on their dominant run this season.
Likewise, Lillard has been an exceptional pickup for the Bucks, both in terms of scoring and assists. In fact, he’s turned it on in recent weeks, averaging over 25 points in his last 10.
However, that hasn’t resulted in many wins for the Bucks, who have lost four straight and six of their last seven.
Three of those losses came against the Wizards, Grizzlies and Raptors – teams that have combined to win just 29% of their games this season. Their last loss was a 122-109 home loss to the Knicks on Sunday in a game played by all their starters.
That doesn’t mean they enter Tuesday’s game fully healthy. The Bucks continue to be battered heading into the final stretch of the season.
While MarJon Beauchamp and Patrick Beverley are listed as ruled out, it won’t be a big factor, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo are probable and questionable, respectively.
Even if Middleton and Antetokounmpo dress, they could be limited as the team tries to recover before the start of the playoffs.
That could provide an opportunity for Lillard, who is shooting an impressive 49.1 percent against the Celtics. However, is he enough to defeat a loaded team with multiple 20-point contributors?
On the other hand, the Celtics are pretty healthy for this time of year, even though Al Horford and Porzingis are both listed as questionable.
If the entire Celtics roster is available, I don’t see many opportunities for the Bucks in this matchup. The Celtics tend to finish the year while the Bucks couldn’t play worse.
Bet on the NBA?
Celtics vs. Bucks Picks
Savvy NBA bettors will see that the Celtics actually have a winning ATS record both at home and on the road. This could lend itself well to Boston being a two-point favorite.
If you’re concerned about the Celtics’ last five games against the spread (2-3), note that they’ve been huge favorites in four of them. At the professional level, it can be difficult to cover spreads approaching 20 points, regardless of the opponent.
This is why I like the Celtics at -2. You win more money than a moneyline and only need a win of three points or more. And with these teams playing as they have been, Boston will cover is the bet.
Pick: Celtics -2 (-108, FanDuel)
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