Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Predictions, Odds, Picks

Dec. 25, 2021
Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The NBA’s Christmas Day festivities will resume on Saturday afternoon with a heavyweight Eastern Conference bout between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Coverage begins from Fiserv Forum at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Score Prediction

Bucks 116, Celtics 109

Best Bets

Over 220 (-110) at Wynn-Vegas

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Predictions

After last year’s triumphant NBA title run, the Bucks stumbled out a surprisingly slow start to the new season, as the Bucks opened with a lackluster 6-8 SU and ATS skid – despite being favored in ten of those contests.

The Bucks have gradually settled into a groove since their rough start though, considering Milwaukee enters Christmas Day riding a sturdy 14-5 SU run - yet, still sit just 8-11 ATS across that timeframe.

On the other hand, Boston also posted a surprisingly poor start to this season, as the Celtics kicked things off with a 7-8 SU and 9-6 ATS aberration, considering Boston was favored in nine of those matchups, lost eight SU – yet still managed to pick up nine wins ATS across that stretch.

Boston’s offensive rhythm is still relatively nonexistent as December continues to unfold though, considering the Celtics enters Saturday 3-5 SU and ATS across the last eight games – while averaging just 106.8 PPG across that stretch.

I’ll take the under here, as the Bucks and Celtics have both been relatively underwhelming in the scoring department lately, with Milwaukee averaging just 109.5 PPG across the last six games – while Boston is averaging just 106.8 PPG across their last eight.

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Odds

  • Celtics +210
  • Bucks -260
  • Celtics +6.5 (-110)
  • Bucks -6.5 (-110)
  • Over 220 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Resources

  • Matchup: Atlantic vs. Central
  • Date: Saturday, December 25, 2021
  • Venue: Fiserv Forum
  • Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • TV-Time: ABC - 2:30 p.m. ET

Boston Celtics Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 16-16
  • ATS: 17-14-1
  • O/U: 13-18-1

After finishing seventh in the East with a record of 36-36 last year, Boston ended up posting a similarly underwhelming start to this season, as the Celtics opened with a pedestrian 7-8 SU and 9-6 ATS run – and are seemingly still stuck in that rut, considering Boston is just 8-8 SU and 7-8-1 ATS since that point.

The unavoidable truth for the Celtics is that they need to shoot better though, considering Boston ranks just 15th in scoring and 20th offensive efficiency (108.3 PPG, 1.059 OFF) – while also ranking 23rd in both effective field-goal percentage and three-point percentage (51.4% EFG, 33.7% 3FG).

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 20-13
  • ATS: 14-19
  • O/U: 13-20

After finishing with the best record in the East in two of the last three seasons, Milwaukee’s rough opening stretch was somewhat astonishing, considering the Bucks’ compiled a record of 162-65 across the previous three regular seasons – and then started this season just 6-8 SU and ATS.

Since mid-November though, Milwaukee has played solid basketball when healthy, considering the Bucks are 14-5 SU across their latest eighteen-game stretch – with three of those losses coming in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.


(AP) The total has gone UNDER in five of the last seven Bucks' games.

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Head-to-Head

The Celtics are 2-0 SU and ATS against Milwaukee this season, with the first matchup soaring over the total with a score of 122-113 (O 209) – while the second stayed under with a score of 117-103 (U 223).

Key Players to Watch

  • BOS: Jayson Tatum - SF (25.6 PPG, 8.6 REB, 3.8 AST)
  • BOS: Jaylen Brown - SG (22.4 PPG, 5.3 REB, 2.7 AST)
  • MIL: Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF (27 PPG, 11.6 REB, 5.8 AST)
  • MIL: Khris Middleton - SF (18 PPG, 5.6 REB, 5 AST)

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Conclusion

After getting back on track with a win over Cleveland on Wednesday night, the Celtics will travel to Milwaukee on Christmas Day as 7.5-point underdogs against the Bucks at Fiserv Forum – marking just the second time Boston has been an underdog of nine points or more this season.

I’ll take the under here, as Saturday afternoon will be the first time since October that the total for a matchup containing either of these teams has been set above OU 230 – and for a good reason, considering the Bucks and Celtics have eclipsed 115 PTS just once apiece across the last six games.

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

  • The Celtics are 3-1-1 in their last five games.
  • The total has gone OVER in six of the last seven matchups between Milwaukee and Boston.
  • The Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last five matchups against Milwaukee.
  • The total has gone UNDER in five of the last seven Bucks' games.