The Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of their second-round series on Tuesday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Bucks-Celtics prediction and pick.
This will be one of the most competitive series in the entire postseason, but you wouldn't know it by the way Game 1 went. Milwaukee took the lead in the first quarter, and the Celtics never managed to get it back. Point guard Jrue Holiday and superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed a combined 49 points, and the Bucks stole a game on the road with ease. This should be a significantly more competitive contest, as the Celtics are far too good of a team to be blown out twice in a row.
Here are the Bucks-Celtics Game 2 odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Playoffs Odds: Bucks-Celtics Game 2 Odds
Milwaukee Bucks: +5 (-110)
Boston Celtics: -5 (-110)
Over: 215 (-110)
Under: 215 (-110)
*Watch NBA Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Why The Bucks Could Cover The Spread
The Bucks shot uncharacteristically poorly from the field in Game 1, and they still won with ease. Milwaukee only shot 41% overall while shooting 35% from 3-point range. Both of those percentages are lower than their season averages. If the Bucks can shoot as well as they normally do, or even better, they will be an effective offense once again. It helps that the Celtics don't seem to have an answer for Antetokounmpo. While he didn't shoot particularly well, Antetokounmpo still managed to rack up a 24-point triple-double. It's fair to expect another strong performance from Giannis, and that should lead to even better offense for the Bucks overall.
There's a chance the Celtics play this game without one of their most important players. Point guard Marcus Smart is questionable with a quad injury, and his presence is absolutely crucial to Boston's success. Smart, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, can guard almost anyone on the floor. Without him, the Celtics lose the ability to switch defensive matchups comfortably. That's a huge factor against a Bucks team that has several legitimate scorers. Smart is key to Boston's success, so it would be devastating to see him miss this game. The expectation is he will play, but he likely will not be at 100%.
Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
The Bucks won't be at full health here either. Small forward Khris Middleton, the Bucks' second-best scoring option, will miss this entire series with an MCL sprain. He plays a key role on both defense and offense, so Milwaukee must continue to function without him. Backup point guard George Hill is dealing with an abdomen injury, so he has already been ruled out for this game.
Home-court advantage will provide a huge boost to Boston here. The Celtics went 28-13 at home this year while going 23-18 on the road, clearly showing that they're far more comfortable on their home floor. Unsurprisingly, the Bucks also earned a slightly worse road record over the regular season. TD Garden is also one of the toughest places to play in the NBA, as Boston fans are notoriously rowdy. The Celtics should defend their home floor after being humiliated in front of their fans in Game 1. They have been arguably the best team in the NBA for months now, after all, and another sluggish performance would be a surprise.
Look for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Tatum to bounce back from poor shooting performances and for the Celtics to be more effective offensively after that terrible Game 1.
Final Bucks-Celtics Game 2 Prediction & Pick
It's hard to see the Celtics dropping two games in a row to this Bucks team. While Milwaukee has dealt with injuries well so far, this will be Boston's time to shine in a big win by double digits.
Final Bucks-Celtics Game 2 Prediction & Pick: Boston Celtics: -5 (-110)
Follow Us
Subscribe