Celtics vs. Bucks Predictions, Picks & Best Bets: Will Boston Continue to Roll?

Boston Celtics (8-2 SU, 5-5 ATS) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (2-7 SU, 3-6 ATS)

When: Sunday, November 10th, 3:30 PM (ET)

Where: Fiserv Forum, WI, Milwaukee

TV: NBCS

Point Spread: Bos -4/Mil +4

Total: 228.5

Money Line: Boston Celtics -181/+154

Notable Injuries

Celtics

• Kristaps Porzingis (Out) Foot
• Jaylen Brown (Questionable) Hip
• Luke Kornet (Questionable) Hamstring
• Jaden Springer (Questionable) Knee

Bucks

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (Probable) Patella
• Khris Middleton (Out) Ankle
• Gary Trent Jr. (Questionable) Back
• Ryan Rollins (Probable) Shoulder
• Andre Jackson Jr. (Questionable) Hip

At 3:30 ET, the Milwaukee Bucks (-181) will host the Boston Celtics (+154) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Celtics are favored by 4 points, and the over/under line is 228.5.

This game will be played at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and can be seen on NBCS.

Recent Form

Boston improved to 8-2 on the season with a 108-104 win over the Nets on Friday. The Celtics were at home and entered the game as heavy favorites, but they didn’t cover the -13.5 spread. The total score of 212 points fell short of the 221.5-point O/U line.

The Nets opened the game with a 12-0 run, but Boston chipped away at the lead, winning the 2nd quarter 25-23. The teams were tied 27-27 in the 3rd, and Boston entered the 4th quarter trailing 78-76. They outscored the Nets 18-16 in the final period to secure the win.

The Bucks fell to 2-7 on the season after a 116-94 road loss to the Knicks on Friday. Milwaukee, who entered the game as +6.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The total score of 210 points was below the O/U line of 224.

Milwaukee struggled early, trailing 66-47 at halftime after being outscored 34-22 in the 2nd quarter. They played the Knicks evenly in the 3rd, with both teams scoring 25 points, but couldn’t mount a comeback in the 4th, where they were outscored 25-22.

The Historicals

In terms of betting, Milwaukee has an ATS record of 4-1 in the previous five matchups vs Boston. This mark has come on an average scoring margin of +6 points per game in favor of the Bucks. In these matchups, the teams have put together an over-under mark of 1-4. Combined, they averaged 226 points in these games.

Analysis

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics to a win over the Nets, scoring 33 points and grabbing nine rebounds despite shooting just 26.4% from three-point range as a team. Tatum hit five threes at a 38.5% clip, while Payton Pritchard added 20 points, knocking down three threes at 42.9%.

Tatum scored 13 points in the 3rd quarter, while Pritchard added 11 in the 2nd and 6 more in overtime. Jrue Holiday contributed 17 points, with six coming in the 4th quarter and another 2 in overtime.

The Celtics’ defense held strong, giving up just 104 points to the Nets on Friday. They were especially tough in the 4th quarter, allowing only 16 points. Boston also limited Brooklyn to 41% shooting from the field, including just ten made threes on 26% shooting.

Boston sent the Nets to the line 15 times, where they made 12 free throws. The Celtics grabbed 35 defensive rebounds while allowing 12 offensive boards. They also added seven steals and nine blocks in the game.

In Friday’s loss to the Knicks, the Bucks managed just 94 points, shooting 43.4% from the field. Their struggles from beyond the arc were evident, as they hit only seven threes at a 23.3% rate.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds, scoring 10 points in the 3rd quarter. Damian Lillard added 19 points, with eight coming in the 2nd quarter.

Defensively, the Bucks struggled in the 1st and 2nd quarters, giving up 32 and 34 points, respectively, but they tightened up in the 3rd and 4th, allowing 25 points in each. Overall, Milwaukee allowed 116 points on 47% shooting from the field.

The Bucks did a solid job defending the three, holding the Knicks to 14 made threes on 30% shooting. They sent New York to the line 19 times, where the Knicks converted 16 free throws. Milwaukee recorded one steal and five blocks.

Betting Trends

• Boston has played well in their previous three road games, going 3-0 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 120 points per game while allowing 101. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
• Through their last five home contests, the Bucks offense has averaged 103 points per game while allowing an average of 117. Milwaukee posted an overall record of 0-5 while going 1-4 ATS.
• In their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Bucks have a straight-up record of 2-8 and an ATS mark of 4-6.
• Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the favorite, the Celtics have a straight up record of 8-2. Their record vs the spread in these games was 5-5.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

We hit our last pick on the Bucks, as they lost handily to the Knicks on Friday night, and now they have another tough test on Sunday vs the Celtics. One thing to keep an eye on is the availability of Jaylen Brown, as he is currently questionable. But even if Brown doesn’t play, I still like Boston at -4 in this one. When the Celtics take on the Bucks, guys like Payton Pritchard and Derrick White seem to come up big. And with the way Milwaukee has been playing defense this year, Brown’s absence won’t make that much of a difference. I’m taking the Celtics to win and cover.