Smooth vs Rocky: Celtics vs Bucks Game Analysis
The Bucks will be at home against the Celtics, where they do their best, winning half of their home games. Unfortunately, the Celtics are dominant on the road, winning 20 games and losing only 11. Boston is running like a smooth, high-performance engine, looking like it’s already in playoff mode. Their biggest concern is Jayson Tatum, whose injury status is uncertain (lingering Achilles concerns). They’ve won 9 of their last 11 games. Let’s see which team is the favorite in this Celtics vs Bucks prediction at PayPerHead.
The Bucks, in comparison, are in sputtering disarray. They chose to rest superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo against the Bulls on Sunday, which was either a masterstroke or incredibly shortsighted. I can’t decide which. They need to turn their game around, which is even more difficult against a top-tier team like Boston. A big part of that will rest on Giannis’ shoulders (or right calf muscle) and whether he’s able to play.
Neemias Queta Excels: Boston Celtics Recent Scores
The second-place Celtics are on a two-game winning streak. Like the Bucks, they had Friday and Sunday games, with a short break on Saturday. The Bucks had to travel home from their Sunday game with Chicago, while Boston travels to Milwaukee after their home game win against the sixth-place 76ers.
After a slow start to Sunday night’s game, the Celtics rebounded with the help of Neemias Queta, who scored a career-high 27 points. That’s impressive for a guy averaging 9.8 points per game. It was his 11th double-double of the season, with three of those coming in the last five games.
The two losses in their last 10 games were against the Nuggets (84-103) and the Knicks (89-111). Their past games have been fairly consistent, with no major upsets.
4th Quarter Blues: Milwaukee Bucks Recent Scores
The Bucks aren’t performing up to expectations, with only 26 wins and 33 losses, putting them in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Their 6-4 record in their last 10 games might seem respectable, except that they just lost to the Chicago Bulls, who were on an 11-game losing streak. The Bucks had a 16-point lead at halftime. I guess they thought the Bulls would just lie down and give up at that point, so they stopped playing and let Chicago go on a historic 27-0 point run for over 6 minutes. Milwaukee managed only 8 points in the 4th quarter against Chicago’s 33.
Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play due to a right calf strain.
Lopsided: Celtics vs Bucks History
It’s been a little lopsided this season as Boston has won 4 of the 5 matchups between these two teams. The one win for Milwaukee saw Kyle Kuzma lead the team with 31 points, and Bobby Portis follow with 27. Giannis sat this one out.
Shake it Off: Boston vs Milwaukee Prediction
Unless Giannis Antetokounmpo can pull off a 40-point night (if he plays), this game is going to the Celtics. So check on his status before game time. Even if he’s not 100%, he can keep this game interesting. Not suffering through last night’s humiliation might make Giannis a secret weapon that his team can get behind.
The last time these two teams met on February 1, Boston won, 107-79, but Giannis didn’t play. Hmm. Boston’s confidence will overpower Milwaukee, as they continue to lick their wounds after last night’s 4th quarter collapse. With their superstar, the Bucks can come within a few points.
I think they can get as close as 111-107, but if they don’t, they should be able to keep the Celtics from covering the -7.5 spread. Don’t just run your book. Run it smarter. Join the PayPerHead community today.
