When the Boston Celtics face the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at TD Garden, it’ll be the last time the pair face off this regular season.
The Eastern Conference rivals have already played twice so far this year, with the first result going in favor of the Celtics at TD Garden and the Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
Now, they get a chance to settle the score – but it’s Boston with the advantage to win the tiebreaker over Milwaukee and according to the best online betting sites, the defending champions are eight-point favorites.
Six and a half games separate the pair in the standings, with the Celtics at 18-4 and the Bucks at 11-10. The visitors are fresh off the back of their seven-game win streak being ended by the Atlanta Hawks.
As for Boston, they’re keeping the pressure on the Cleveland Cavaliers who hold the NBA’s best record at 20-3 – and if the hosts can win tonight they can make it ten from their last 11.
Two MVP candidates in Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo face off, with Tatum’s odds a slightly shorter +500 compared to Giannis at +750.
Tatum was recently named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for October/November – becoming the first player in history to achieve such a feat in three consecutive seasons.
Antetokounmpo has also hit the headlines for his impressive scoring and production to start the year, averaging 33 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 19 games.
Celtics vs Bucks Injury Reports
Injury Report for tomorrow vs. Milwaukee:
Al Horford (left big toe sprain) – QUESTIONABLE
Kristaps Porzingis (left PTT injury management) – QUESTIONABLE
Jayson Tatum (right patella tendinopathy) – QUESTIONABLE— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 5, 2024
Injury Report – Dec. 6 at Boston
Out:
Johnson (G League)
Livingston (G League)
Smith (G League)Questionable:
Beauchamp (Neck Spasms)Probable:
Antetokounmpo (Right Patella Tendinopathy)
Middleton (Bilateral Ankle Surgery)
Prince (Right Patella Tendinopathy)— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 5, 2024
Celtics vs Bucks Prediction
These are two sides who know each other very well – they’ve locked horns in playoff battles over the years, with the Celtics coming on top twice in three match-ups against the Bucks since 2018.
Boston are just a better unit than Milwaukee at the minute – their numbers are better, they’re more consistent and most importantly they play tremendously well together as a team.
At the same time, Giannis could have a typical night and keep the Bucks close. The Celtics earn the edge however, thanks to their strong recent form and home support.
WATCH: Jayson Tatum’s 46-point Game 6 to keep the Celtics alive in 2022
We’ve been in that situation before.
The Celtics were down 2-3 round last year with Game 6 on the road. They can reverse this. But we gonna need this kind of performance: pic.twitter.com/vHmllSpIIL
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) May 10, 2023
