Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Predictions, Odds, Picks

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The Eastern Conference Semi-Finals will resume on Tuesday night with a critical Game 2 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. Coverage begins from Boston’s TD Garden at 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

Score Prediction

Celtics 106, Bucks 103

Updated on 04/23/2024

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Predictions

After finishing seventh in the East with a record of 36-36 SU last year, Boston initially sustained that same underwhelming pace with a mediocre start to this season, as the Celtics opened with a frustrating 15-20 SU and ATS skid, with ten of those SU losses coming by 10+ PTS.

However, Boston has admirably ridden the coattail of its defense since mid-January, considering the Celtics are surrendering just 103.3 DPPG across their latest 40-12 SU run, which includes an average of 109 DPPG across their four-game sweep of Brooklyn in the previous round.

On the other hand, Milwaukee posted a surprisingly poor start to the season, as the Bucks kicked things off with a lackluster 6-8 SU and ATS skid, with four of those SU losses coming in matchups they were favored in.

However, Milwaukee has quietly dominated since that brief opening skid, considering the Bucks have yielded lofty averages of 116.4 OPPG and 111.7 DPPG across their latest 51-24 SU and 37-38 ATS stretch, despite averaging just 109.8 OPPG and 95.2 DPPG during their first-round matchup against Chicago.

I’ll take the under here, as the Bucks have averaged 108.3 OPPG and allowed just 94.2 DPPG across their 4-2 ATS stretch since the start of the postseason, which includes a 101-89 road victory in Game 1 against Boston (U 218.5), setting the stage for another hard-fought defensive battle against the Celtics’ top-ranked defense (104.6 DPPG, 1.039 DE).

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Betting Odds

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Betting Resources

Matchup: Central vs. Atlantic
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Venue: TD Garden
Location: Boston, MA
TV-Time: TNT - 7:00 p.m. ET
Injury Report
NBA Playoff Betting Central

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Analysis

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

SU: 56-32
ATS: 43-45
O/U: 43-45

After finishing with the best record in the East in two of the last three seasons, Milwaukee’s rough start was somewhat of a head-scratcher, considering the Bucks’ compiled a record of 162-65 SU across the previous three regular seasons, only to open this season with a lackluster 6-8 SU skid.

Milwaukee has played excellent, when healthy, since mid-November though, considering the Bucks enter Tuesday’s Game 2 riding a sturdy 51-24 SU stretch, with a huge chunk of those losses coming in the absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (8).

Boston Celtics Betting Analysis

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

SU: 55-32
ATS: 48-38-1
O/U: 42-43-2

After last year’s mediocre 36-36 SU showing, Boston stumbled out a similarly lackluster start to this season, as the Celtics opened with a head-scratching 15-20 SU skid, despite getting tagged as favorites in 22 of those contests.

However, Boston has dominated defensively since the midway point of the season, considering the Celtics enter Tuesday’s contest riding a red-hot 40-12 SU stretch, while scoring 114+ PTS in 28 of those contests (113.8 OPPG) and allowing 100 PTS or less in 21 of them (103.3 DPPG).

**The Bucks are 1-7 ATS in their last eight matchups against Boston. (Getty Images)**

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Head-to-Head

The Celtics won two of three regular-season matchups against Milwaukee last year, with all three contests soaring over the total at an average of 239.7 PPG.

However, Boston and Milwaukee split a four-game set 2-2 SU this season, with three of those matchups cruising over the total at an average of 237.7 PPG, while one contest stayed under with a score of 117-103 (U 223).

Far more defense was played in the first postseason matchup between these teams though, as Milwaukee posted a commanding road victory in Game 1 this past Sunday (101-89, U 218.5).

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Key Players to Watch

MIL: Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF (29.9 PPG, 11.6 REB, 5.8 AST)
MIL: Jrue Holiday - PG (18.3 PPG, 4.5 REB, 6.8 AST)
BOS: Jayson Tatum - SF (26.9 PPG, 8 REB, 4.4 AST)
BOS: Jaylen Brown - SG (23.6 PPG, 6.1 REB, 3.5 AST)

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Betting Conclusion

After posting a dominant road victory in Game 1 this past Sunday (W, 101-89), the Bucks enter Tuesday’s second matchup as 4.5-point road underdogs against the Celtics at TD Garden, which is roughly the same number Boston was favored by in Sunday’s series-opener (MIL +5).

I’ll take the under here, as Game 1 between these teams stayed well under the total with a score of 101-89 (U 218.5), and while this is still a matchup between two incredibly efficient offenses, I expect to see another low-scoring battle between the Celtics top-ranked defense and a Bucks squad that’s allowed 94.2 DPPG across their first six postseason contests.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The total has gone UNDER in six straight Bucks' games.
The Celtics are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games.
The Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
The total has gone OVER in 12 of the last 17 Celtics' games.
The Bucks are 1-7 ATS in their last eight matchups against Boston.
The total has gone OVER in eight of the last ten matchups between Boston and Milwaukee.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson