The long-awaited restart of the 2019-20 NBA restart will arrive for the Boston Celtics late this afternoon when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks at 5:30 PM ET this Friday, July 31st.
Playing on the neutral floor of the Disney-hosted facilities of the Wide World of Sports complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, both teams will likely see this game as much a tune-up as a test for where their team is at.
The Bucks will be without starting point guard Eric Bledsoe and shooting guard Pat Connaughton as both are on the recovery trail from recent cases of COVID-19.
How to watch or stream Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks NBA restart https://t.co/dMGyGcuoqQ
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 30, 2020
Neither is likely to be out long given both have practiced with the team, but in a season where they have as clear a path to the NBA title as any franchise, an abundance of caution makes sense.
Forward Marvin Williams is listed as doubtful for the contest, and guard Frank Mason probable in Milwaukee’s latest injury report.
An abundance of caution is the approach of the Celtics as well, who — though healthy from the top to the bottom of their roster — plan to limit All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to a maximum of 20 minutes for this game.
While it seems initial concern in the media over Walker’s recurrent knee soreness may have been a bit out of proportion to the UConn product’s actual situation, it makes sense to be exceptionally careful with it for the same reasons as the Bucks — a shot at a banner is not an absurdity for this team.
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As far as odds go, it’s a bit closer now that Milwaukee will be without a key player and a not-small part of their rotation.
Most online oddsmakers have set the spread to between + 5.5 to 4.5 for the Celtics, with + 5 being the average.
Prediction: Boston wins this one by a nose — 97 – 96.
For information on how to watch this game (and links to the schedule and broadcast of the other seven seeding games), click here.
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