Bucks vs Celtics Prediction & Odds: Boston, Milwaukee Battle For 3-2 Series Lead

Milwaukee (57-34 SU, 43-48 ATS) and Boston (57-33, 49-39-2) have traded wins through the first four games of their second-round series, setting up a critical Game 5 at TD Garden. Boston has covered five of the last six meetings as the hosts and opened as 5.5-point favorites tonight.

Bucks vs Celtics Odds & Analysis

Sportsbook Odds 

Following their dramatic come-from-behind victory in Game 4, the Celtics opened as 5.5-point favorites to take the series lead tonight. Early Bucks vs Celtics predictions appear to be on Boston, moving the C’s to 6.5-point chalk by Wednesday morning. Oddsmakers bumped the total up a point from Game 4’s OVER/UNDER after the teams combined to score 224 points on Monday.

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Bucks’ Late-Game Struggles Could Be Because Giannis Is Getting Tired

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been putting up massive numbers in this series, but those stats may be coming at a price. Milwaukee’s big man has looked gassed down the stretch against Boston, which has outscored the Bucks in three of the four fourth quarters in the series — including 43-28 in Game 4.

Antetokoumpo led all scorers once again on Monday with 34 points and added 18 rebounds, boosting his series averages to 32 points, 13 boards and eight dimes. But with Khris Middleton still sidelined by injury, Giannis needs more support from his teammates, particularly Jrue Holiday, who has missed 17 of his last 22 shots from the field.

If head coach Mike Budenholzer is considering any changes to his starting lineup to give Antetokounmpo more help, he’s not telling anybody. Budenholzer told reporters he won’t announce his starters until 30 minutes before game time, leaving it uncertain whether Bobby Portis, Grayson Allen or someone else will start at shooting guard.

Boston’s Depth, Balanced Scoring Key As Celts Continue ATS Success Vs Bucks

Defensive stud Robert Williams III missed Game 4 with knee soreness, and it remains to be seen if he will be able to return to the lineup tonight. If he can’t, expect veteran Al Horford to get another start at center, especially after he went off for a playoff career-high 30 points in Boston’s comeback win Monday.

More than half of Horford’s points came in the fourth quarter as Boston hit 16 of 19 shots in the final frame. Jayson Tatum added 12 in the fourth to also finish with 30 points, while Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown each contributed 18 to Boston’s balanced attack.

Now 6-1 ATS in their last seven games and 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27, the Celtics also continue to be a cash cow for bettors when they face the Bucks. Boston has covered three of four games in this series to move to 10-1 ATS in its last 11 meetings with Milwaukee.

Bucks vs Celtics Pick & Insights

Bucks: Keys To Cover

Milwaukee needs more contributions from its role players in order to ease the burden on Antetokounmpo and allow him to be fresher late in games. Given how much the Bucks have struggled in the fourth quarter of the series, a strong start would be huge to help Milwaukee avoid playing from behind.

Celtics: Keys To Cover

A return home to TD Garden should be a big boost for the Celtics, who have won 20 of their last 26 games in Beantown. Boston’s defense continues to befuddle the high-scoring Bucks, who are averaging less than 100 points per game in the series.

Odds Shark’s Computer Bucks vs Celtics Prediction: Bucks +5.5

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