The Boston Celtics will pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night, pitting Eastern Conference Finals contenders. Tip-off from Fiserv Forum is at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Bucks are 2.5-point spread favorites and the game total is 236.5 points.
Boston (52-24 SU and 40-35-1 ATS) lost to Washington on Tuesday in DC. The C's are 3-2 straight-up in their past five games and 2.5 games behind Milwaukee in the conference standings.
Milwaukee (54-21 SU and 41-32-2 ATS) beat Detroit on Monday and will play Indiana on Wednesday. The Bucks are 4-1 straight-up in their past five and lead the Eastern Conference with seven games left.
Boston and Milwaukee split their previous two meetings.
The Celtics won the first round on December 25 in Boston 139-118. They shot 58.8 percent from the field, scoring 36 points in the first q uarter, 38 in the third, and 39 in the fourth. Boston shot 19-for-39 from long range (48.7%) and outscored Milwaukee 54-40 in the paint.
The Bucks won the second matchup 131-125 in overtime at home on February 14. Milwaukee was more efficient from three-point range (42.9%), outrebounded Boston (+8 rebounding margin), and scored 27 points off turnovers. Boston attempted 50 three-pointers but only knocked down 17 of them and failed to take full advantage of the Bucks' turnover woes (19 TOs).
Boston suffered a disheartening loss to the shorthanded Wizards in its last game, losing by 19 points. Washington was without Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma but rode Kristaps Porzingis' hot hand (32 points on 14-of-21 shooting) to the upset win as a double-digit underdog.
The Wiz shot 54.5 percent from the floor and won the rebounding battle (+5 rebounding margin), while the C's were a dismal 11-for-44 (25.0%) from behind the arc. Boston trailed 64-51 at halftime, and Washington's lead ballooned to 23 points in the third quarter.
We weren't able to stage a comeback tonight in DC. pic.twitter.com/LKq6zTvZTN
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 29, 2023
Jayson Tatum paces Boston in scoring this season. He averages 30.1 points on 46.2 percent shooting, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. A few other Celtics to watch are Jaylen Brown (26.8 PPG and 6.9 RPG), Malcolm Brogdon (14.6 PPG and 4.2 RPG), Derrick White (12.3 PPG and 4.0 APG), and Marcus Smart (11.4 PPG and 6.3 APG).
Boston scores 118.0 points per game (4th) and shoots 47.5 percent (15th), including 37.6 percent from three-point distance (7th). It converts 81.5 percent of its free throw attempts (4th) and averages 45.2 rebounds (7th) with a +1.3 rebounding margin. The Celtics are 3rd in adjusted offensive rating and 17th in pace of play, per Dunks and Threes.
Boston surrenders 112.0 points per game on defense (6th), and its opponents shoot 46.5 percent from the field (5th), including 34.9 per cent from beyond the arc (6th). The C's are 4th in adjusted defensive rating and 5th in assist-per-turnover ratio.
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