The Milwaukee Bucks (56-33, 43-46 ATS) host the Boston Celtics (56-32, 47-39-2) at Fiserv Forum on Saturday in Game 3 of their second round series. The Celtics evened up the series on Tuesday but the Bucks will have a chance to gain momentum with home court advantage for the next two games. Find out which team will take the series lead in our Celtics vs Bucks prediction.
- Date/Time: May 7, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Fiserv Forum
- TV Coverage: ABC
- Sportsbook Odds: Bucks -2.5 | O/U 214 (Line History)
- Celtics vs Bucks Matchup Report
Celtics vs Bucks Odds & Analysis
Sportsbook Odds
The Bucks opened as the slight 2.5-point favorite for Game 3 with the total set at 214 points. The UNDER is 4-1 in Boston’s last five games and 7-0 in Milwaukee’s last seven contests. Boston is 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings, suggesting that we could see the visitors flip the script on our Celtics vs Bucks prediction.
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Celtics Shoot The Lights Out In Game 2
Boston got out to a 32-21 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 65-40 by halftime as they cruised to a 109-86 win in Game 2 on Tuesday. Jaylen Brown scored 30 points to lead the team while Jayson Tatum had 29 and Grant Williams had 21.
Brown set the tone early for the Celtics, scoring 25 of his 30 points in the first half on 9-of-10 shooting from the field, including 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. Boston as a team went 20-for-43 from three while limiting Milwaukee to just 3-of-18 shooting from downtown. The Celtics did this without Marcus Smart, mind you – the club’s third leading scorer and Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Smart (thigh) is probable for Saturday’s game.
Slow Start Leads To Big Loss For Bucks
Game 2 got off to a terrible start for the Bucks as they fell in a hole early and never really got close. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the team with 28 points, missed his first six shots of the game and didn’t get on the board until the final minute of the Sportsbook quarter. Meanwhile no other player scored 20-plus for Milwaukee in the loss.
The Bucks struggled offensively in Game 2 as they finished with just 86 points – their lowest output all season. Milwaukee shot 46.6 percent from the field but struggled mightily from long range as they drained just three shots from beyond the arc all game.
George Hill (abdomen) is probable for Saturday.
Celtics vs Bucks Pick & Insights
Celtics: Keys to Cover
The Celtics flexed their offensive depth in Game 2 as both Tatum and Brown had big games, while five players in total finished in double digits. Perhaps even more importantly, the Celtics made things tough for Antetokounmpo and company in their half of the court and didn’t give up many easy buckets. Bring that same intensity to Game 3 and Boston should take the series lead.
Bucks: Keys to Cover
The Bucks will want to focus on getting a better start on Saturday as Game 2 was more or less over by halftime. Grayson Allen has been quiet this series, averaging just eight points per game, but he proved to be an x-factor in the first round against the Bulls. Milwaukee will need more from depth scorers like Allen to get back into the win column.
Odds Shark’s Computer Celtics vs Bucks Prediction: Bucks -1.5
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- Boston is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games.
- The OVER is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Milwaukee.
- The OVER is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
