Bucks vs. Celtics Pick
The Boston Celtics overcame an unbelievable last-second heave from Milwaukee Bucks wingman Khris Middleton Sunday afternoon to send Game 1 into an extra session as the hosts prevailed in overtime. Will Boston push its first round series advantage to 2-0 tonight with another win?
Game Snapshot
707 Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
TD Garden at 8PM ET
TV: TNT
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers atYouWager, the Celtics are listed as a 2-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 198.5 points. As of Tuesday afternoon, 54 percent of public bets are coming in on visiting Milwaukee. Check out our NBA Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Celtics showing resiliency
Boston head coach Brad Stevens said to media in the aftermath of his team’s 113-107 overtime victory in Game 1 that this is probably the toughest-minded team he has ever been around. Without Gordon Hayward for the entire season and now no Kyrie Irving for the playoffs, the Celtics are still in a good position to win their first round series after starting on a positive note. Five different Boston players scored at least 19 points. Al Horford led the way as he tallied 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and two steals. The Celtics will need to continue playing team basketball during the playoffs and judging by what they have done all season, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Bucks bettors hurt by heave
With Boston being a 4-point favorite in Game 1, all Middleton had to do was miss his last-second shot and Milwaukee bettors would have covered in a 3-point loss. Instead, the shot went in and Boston took control in overtime. The Celtics hit their free throws late and Malcolm Brogdon narrowly missed a last-second 3-pointer in overtime that would have covered for the Bucks in overtime once again. Such is the life of sports betting. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes it goes horrendously unlucky.
NBA Betting Trends
Milwaukee
The Bucks are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings. The over is 8-0 in the last eight Milwaukee games following a straight up loss.
Boston
The over is 4-0 for the Celtics in their last four games following a straight up win. The over is 9-1-1 in the last 11 meetings in Boston.
Prediction:
Milwaukee was right there in Game 1 and just needed another play in regulation in order to get the straight up win. Expect a huge game from Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo as the visitors even the series at 1-1. The over is also in play given the history between these two teams, but the score in the series opener was helped by overtime so proceed with caution.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE BUCKS +2