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The Boston Celtics return to the Fiserv Forum to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals
Still Unbeaten in The Playoffs
The Boston Celtics remain as the only unbeaten team in the current playoffs. The Celtics are 5-0 SU in this postseason and they have been 3-0 SU in three playoff games played on the road. Boston swept 5th seeded Indiana in Round 1 and the team took down the best regular season team in the league with a 22-point win in Game 1 of this Eastern Conference Semifinals showdown.
Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and tied a career-high with 11 assists while Al Horford had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Celtics dominated the Bucks in Game 1. Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward also put up big numbers for the Celtics with 19 and 13 points, respectively. Terry Rozier added 11 points off the Boston bench.
Celtics
+255
Bucks
-305
Odds from betonline as of 4/30/19
Struggled In Game 1
The Milwaukee Bucks were the best team in the league during the regular season and were an offensive juggernaut. But the Bucks struggled mightily in Game 1 as the Celtics held them to just 90 points per game while shooting below 35% from the floor. The Bucks also shot just 14-25 from the free throw line to add to their woes. The loss was Milwaukee’s first of the playoffs, leaving Boston as the only unbeaten team in this year’s playoffs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points but he shot just 7-21 from the floor and Khris Middleton has 16 points on 5-12 shooting. Brook Lopez, Sterling Brown and Eric Bledsoe each made only one field goal in Game 1. Other than Giannis and Middleton, only Nikola Mirotic scored in double digits with 13 points.
Who Wins?
Boston is 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played. The Celtics are 6-0 SU in their last six games played on the road. Milwaukee is 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played. The Bucks are 3-3 SU in their last six games played at home. Head to head, these teams have split their last 10 meetings. However, the Bucks are 5-1 SU in their last six home games against the Celtics.
The Celtics look like they are peaking at the right time. They are the only unbeaten team in the postseason. In Game 1, Boston shot 54% from the floor and played tremendous defense against the Bucks. Giannis had a hard time against Al Horford while Kyrie Irving was just flowing on offense.
Milwaukee struggled all night long as they shot just 34.8% from the floor and missed nine free throws in the game. Giannis shot just 7-21 from the floor and couldn’t get his offense going. Expect the Bucks to make the necessary adjustments but without Malcolm Brogdon, they are giving up depth to the Celtics.
This should be a much closer game, one that could go down the wire. Regardless though, the Celtics should be able to pull this one off again with Kyrie Irving playing like the MVP. Milwaukee is feeling the pressure right now and the Celtics are playing with plenty of confidence and fire right now.
I’m picking the Boston Celtics to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their second-round series.
Other Bets To Make
The Celtics are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played. Boston is 6-0 ATS in their last six games on the road. The Bucks are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played. Milwaukee is 2-4 ATS in their last six games played at home. Head to head, the Celtics are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Bucks.
Celtics
+7.5 (-105)
Bucks
-7.5 (-115)
Odds from betonline as of 4/30/19
Boston is 7-1 ATS in their last eight conference semifinals games, 5-1 ATS in their last six games playing on one-day rest, 9-3 ATS in the last dozen games in Milwaukee and 10-3 ATS in their last 13 meetings against the Bucks. Milwaukee is 24-8-1 in their last 33 games playing on one-day rest, 7-0 ATS in their last seven Tuesday games and 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 games as favorites of 5 points or more. I expect a much better effort from the Bucks in Game 2 but I still think that the Celtics have the deeper line-up, have more playoff experience and may be peaking at the right time. I think 7.5 points is just too many free points to give to a team that has a deeper line-up and more playoff experience.
Prediction: Celtics +7.5
The total has gone under in four out of Boston’s last five games played. The under is 4-1 in the Celtics’ last five games against Central Division teams. The total has gone over in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Bucks. The over is 9-4 in the last 13 games between these two teams. The total has gone over in eight out of the last 11 April games played by the Bucks and the over is 4-1 in their last five games against Eastern Conference teams.
Celtics
O 220 -105
Bucks
U 220 -115
Odds from betonline as of 4/30/19
The under is 17-12 in Boston’s last 29 games against Eastern Conference teams. The total has gone under in eight out of the Celtics’ last 10 road games against the Atlantic Division and also 7-3 in their last 10 games overall against teams from the Atlantic Division. The over is 6-4 in the last 10 home playoff games of Toronto as the betting favorite. The total has gone under in seven out of the last 10 games overall of the Raptors as betting favorites. Boston has not gone over 216 total points in five playoff games played this season. These teams combined for 202 points in Game 1. While the Raptors’ best chance to win is to push the pace, these Celtics defense is going to dictate this game, again.
Prediction: Under 220
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