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The Boston Celtics will pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday at Fiserv Forum. Tip-off between these Eastern Conference title contenders is at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Boston (28-8 SU, 18-16-2 ATS, and 19-16-1 O/U) is 11-8 straight-up and 7-10-2 against the spread on the road this season.
Milwaukee (25-12 SU, 15-21-1 ATS, and 23-14 O/U) is 16-4 straight-up and 7-11-1 against the spread at home.
The Celtics won the first matchup between these teams 119-116 on Nov. 22 in Boston. They shot 52.4 percent overall and held the Bucks under 45 percent. Milwaukee won the battle of the boards, collecting nine more offensive rebounds than Boston, and committed six fewer turnovers, but never recovered from a lopsided first quarter (29-17). The C's led by as many as 21 points and never trailed in the game.
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Celtics: PF Kristaps Porzingis (knee) is out. SF Sam Houser (shoulder), SF Jayson Tatum (ankle), C Al Horford (illness), and PG Jrue Holiday (elbow) are probable to play.
Bucks: PG Cameron Payne (concussion) is questionable and PG Damian Lillard (personal) is probable.
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Boston split its last two games, both against Indiana, winning by 17 and losing by two without its leading scorer Jayson Tatum. The C's have still won eight of their last ten games straight-up and lead the Bucks by 3.5 games in the NBA's Eastern Conference standings. Does anyone have a shot at catching them before the playoffs?
The Celtics score 121.2 points per game (5th) and shoot 48.2 percent (10th), including 37.6 percent from three-point range (9th). They convert 79.7 percent of their free-throw attempts (8th) and average 47.6 rebounds (1st), 26.0 assists (16th), and 13.3 turnovers (11th) per game.
Boston gives up 110.7 points per game defensively (4th), and its opponents shoot 45.0 percent (3rd), including 36.2 percent from deep (12th), with 43.1 rebounds per game (13th). The Celtics average 6.4 blocks (2nd), 6.7 steals (27th), and 17.5 fouls (2n d) per game.
New England's squad ranks 1st in offensive rating, 2nd in defensive rating, and 20th in pace (schedule-adjusted), per Dunks and Threes.