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The top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics go at it again for an all-important Game 3 at the TD Garden in Boston on Friday night.
Bucks Red Hot
After losing by a rout in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series, the Milwaukee Bucks stormed back in Game 2 behind a red hot shooting night. Milwaukee sank a franchise record 20 three-pointers in the game with first-time All-Star Khris Middleton making seven of them. Middleton finished the game with 28 points and led five Milwaukee players in double digits.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was his usual aggressive self in Game 2 as he delivered a game-high 29 points along with 9 rebounds. The Greek Freak is having a sensational postseason where he’s averaged 26.0 points while grabbing 10.8 rebounds per contest. Milwaukee led by just four points at the half but exploded with a 39-18 third quarter to put Boston away.
Back At Home
The Celtics may have lost Game 2 badly but they won Game 1 and that means they have already stolen home court advantage in the series. Now the Celtics are back at home for Game 3 and they hope to capitalize on that by taking a pivotal 2-0 lead in the series. The Celtics shot just 39.5% from the floor and managed to score just 102 points in Game 2 while allowing the Bucks to make 20 three-point baskets.
Marcus Morris shot 6-8 from the floor and led the Celtics with 17 points in Game 2. Jaylen Brown had another strong game with 16 points while Big Al Horford added 15 points and 8 rebounds for the Men in Green. However, Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier combined to shoot just 8-38 from the floor in Game 2 and the team’s overall shooting woes doomed them against the red hot Bucks.
Who Wins?
The Bucks are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played. Milwaukee is 3-0 SU in their last three games on the road. The Celtics are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played. Boston is 2-1 SU in their last three games played at home. Head to head, the Bucks are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games against the Celtics.
After getting blown out and losing Game 1 by 22 points, the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks bounced back with a strong effort in Game 2 and won by 21 points to even the series. Milwaukee shot a franchise playoff-best 20 three-pointers to sink the Celtics and get back in the series.
Meanwhile, Boston saw Kyrie Irving struggle to put the ball inside the basket in Game 2, a sharp contrast to Game 1 where he dazzled the Bucks and led Boston to a rout. Boston continues to miss Marcus Smart while Malcolm Brogdon has already been practicing for the Bucks. If Smart and/or Brogdon can return, it would be to the advantage of their respective teams.
The Bucks were simply on fire in Game 2, making one three-pointer after another. But I don’t expect them to hit as many in Game 3, not especially with this game being played at the TD Garden where the Bucks have been 3-7 SU in their last 10 visits. Meanwhile, I also expect Boston to shoot better at the comfort of their home floor. I’m picking the Boston Celtics to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of their second round playoff series.
Other Bets To Make
Milwaukee is 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Bucks are 3-0 ATS in their last three games played on the road. The Celtics are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played. Boston is 2-1 ATS in their last three home games played. Head to head, the Celtics are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games against the Bucks. If your new to basketball betting, then make sure and read our basketball betting guide.
Bucks
+2 (-107)
Celtics
-2 (-113)
Odds from betonline as of 5/03/19
Milwaukee is 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 road games played, 37-17-3 in their last 57 games played against the Eastern Conference, 4-0 ATS in their last four Friday games and 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall. Boston is 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games against an opponent with a winning record, 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 home games, 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games when playing on two-days rest and 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. The Celtics are also 11-4 ATS in their last 15 meetings against the Bucks. Milwaukee did win big in Game 2 but that was on the strength of 20 three-pointers made. But I don’t expect them to shoot as well for the second straight game and one which is played in Boston where they have just covered once in the last seven games.
Prediction: Celtics -2
The total has gone over in seven out of the last 10 games played by Milwaukee. The Bucks have seen the total go over in each of their last three games on the road. The over is 49-39 in Boston’s 88 total games played this season. The total has gone over in 19 out of the last 28 home games played by the Celtics against Eastern Conference teams. Head to head, the over is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings between the Bucks and Celtics.
Bucks
O 219.5 -110
Celtics
U 219.5 -110
Odds from betonline as of 5/03/19
The over is 5-0 in the Bucks’ last five games overall. The total has gone over in 10 out of the last 14 games between the Bucks and Celtics. The over is 16-5-1 in the last 22 meetings in Boston. The Bucks were the #1 scoring team during the regular season and they have gone over in four out of six playoff games played so far this season. Meanwhile, the Celtics have been a defensive team most of the season but they’ve gone over in two out of their last three games. They may need more than defense to beat the Bucks and that means they have to put points on the board as well, which they can with all the talent on their team.
Prediction: Over
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