The Boston Celtics have plenty of things going against them Thursday night as they visit the NBA-leading Bucks in Milwaukee. Not only are the Celtics playing on the second night of a back-to-back against a Milwaukee team that has gone 19-2 at Fiserv Forum, but they’ll also have to deal with a motivated Bucks team that fell 116-105 the last time these teams met on October 30.
- Date/Time: January 16, 8 p.m. ET
- Arena: Fiserv Forum
- TV Coverage: TNT
- Sportsbook Odds: Bucks -8.5 | O/U 223.5
- Celtics vs Bucks Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Milwaukee entered as an 8.5-point home favorite; that’s the largest underdog spread Boston has seen this season, besting the previous mark of +7.5 in a 107-104 loss to the host L.A. Clippers on November 20. The total is set at 223.5.
Boston News & Notes
Even with everything listed above, it might have helped even a little had the Celtics come into Thursday’s marquee matchup with some momentum. But they fell flat at TD Garden on Wednesday night, getting outscored by 15 points in the second half of a dispiriting 116-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons for their fourth defeat in the last six games.
But the schedule does offer a potential respite following Thursday’s contest, with the Celtics promptly returning to Boston for another three-game homestand (though one of those games is against the West-leading Los Angeles Lakers). And the Celtics will likely have star Jayson Tatum (knee) back in the lineup Thursday after he sat out the first game of the back-to-back.
Milwaukee News & Notes
The 36-6 Bucks have officially reached the point in the season – like the dominant Golden State Warriors did late last decade – of toying with inferior opponents. Milwaukee enters its rematch with the Celtics having rolled to four straight wins, with each of the previous three coming by more than 20 points. The Bucks’ +12.6 average scoring margin leads the NBA by a wide margin.
And just like those Warriors teams, the Bucks are a good bet to get up for games with added significance – and this one certainly qualifies, especially to MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. He was held to just 22 points the last time these teams met – and if you’re looking for a player prop in this one, we like Giannis to go OVER his Vegas point total.
Betting Pick: Milwaukee -8.5
There’s probably a line big enough for us to consider the visitors, but this ain’t it. With Milwaukee rested, rolling and presumably amped for revenge, we love their chances of a cover.
- Boston is 2-4 SU and ATS in its previous 6 games.
- Milwaukee is 16-8 ATS vs the East this season.
- The UNDER is 5-2 over the last 7 meetings between these teams.
