The Milwaukee Bucks visit TD Garden Sunday to take on the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we look at the Bucks vs. Celtics odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Bucks are coming into their second-round series after defeating the No. 6-seeded Chicago Bulls in 5 games. Milwaukee covered the last 3, failing to cover the first 2 at home as double-digit favorites.
Unfortunately for Milwaukee, it will be without its second-leading scorer, G Khris Middleton. He averaged just 14.5 points per game against Chicago, but has been a vital piece of the Bucks this season.
As for Boston, it swept the F Kevin Durant-led Brooklyn Nets. F Jayson Tatum turned into an all-out superstar on the national stage, averaging 29.5 points per game.
The Celtics were 3-1 against the spread (ATS) versus the Nets, entering as underdogs in their 2 road matches. They’ve covered 7 of their last 8. Boston is 48-37-1 ATS on the season.
Bucks vs. Celtics odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:44 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bucks +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Celtics -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks +4.5 (-108) | Celtics -4.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 217.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
Bucks vs. Celtics key injuries
Bucks
- G Khris Middleton (knee) out
Celtics
- None
[tipico]
Bucks vs. Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 108, Bucks 103
Money line
PASS.
I like the Celtics at home, especially with the Bucks down Middleton. However -190 is too pricey for me to suggest betting on them to win outright.
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Against the spread
LEAN to the CELTICS -4.5 (-108).
This is a very small play, if any at all. I like the Celtics size with C Robert Williams.
Milwaukee is going to be a far more formidable side defensively, ending the first round with the league’s best defensive rating. The Bulls struggled offensively, not breaking 100 points in 3 of the 5 games.
That’s where the Celtics, led by two bonafide stars in Tatum and F Jaylen Brown, should differ, especially without Middleton, a defensive mastermind, on the court.
The Bucks were the third-worst team in the NBA at covering as road underdogs at just 4-9 ATS.
Without Middleton, I think they come up short, but it’s certainly just a fractional unit as this is a reasonable large spread for 2 quality teams. It should be a great game and series.
Over/Under
BET the UNDER 217.5 (-112).
In the first round, these teams combined to go 1-8 O/U. That trend should continue, especially given Milwaukee’s length defensively.
They’ll likely put G Jrue Holiday, who has been named to 3 All-Defensive teams, on Brown and give 2-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo the assignment of Tatum.
That’s not going to be easy for the Boston stars to deal with, and I expect them to struggle to score. Also, C Al Horford shot 60% from deep in the first round. I would not expect those performances to be repeated.
The Bucks had the league’s best defensive rating in the first round, and the Celtics had the best for the entire season. Combine that with the first-round trends, and I’ll take the Under as my best bet.
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