Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick & Prediction 4/9/24

The Celtics (-129) are a 2-point favorite over the Bucks (+108) in a 7:30 ET matchup at Fiserv Forum. Boston (62-16) has won five straight and is 1st in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee (47-31) has lost four straight and is 2nd in the East.

This Eastern Conference matchup will be televised on TNT.

BOSTON CELTICS VS MILWAUKEE BUCKS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Boston Celtics -2

This game will be played at Fiserv Forum at 7:30 ET on Tuesday, April 9th.

WHY BET THE BOSTON CELTICS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 142-137 in favor of the Celtics.
• Our projections have Jayson Tatum finishing with Jayson Tatum points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
• From the field, we have the Celtics finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.6% and knocking down 19 threes.

Can the Celtics Live Up to the Hype on the Road?

Today, the Celtics are favored by 2 points against the Bucks. This season, Boston has been favored in 75 of their 78 games, going 60-15 straight-up and 38-34 against the spread. As the favorite, they have an average scoring margin of +12.1 points per game.

Boston’s O/U record for the season is 40-37-1, and their games have averaged a combined 230 points. Today’s line of 228 is slightly lower than their season average of 229.4.

In their most recent game, the Celtics defeated the Trail Blazers by a score of 124-107. The O/U line for that game was 215.5, and Boston covered the spread as 16.5-point favorites.

With a record of 62-16, the Celtics are the top team in the Eastern Conference. In non-conference games, they are 23-7 and 39-9 against other Eastern Conference teams.

On the road, the Celtics have a scoring differential of +8.0 points per game and are 27-13 for the season. Against the spread on the road, they are 19-19 compared to 21-16 at home.

When it comes to scoring, the Celtics have been one of the best teams in the league this season. They are currently 2nd in the NBA in points per game at 120.8. Interestingly, they are actually averaging more points on the road (118.7) than at home (123.1).

One of the reasons for their high-scoring offense is their three-point shooting. The Celtics lead the NBA in three-pointers made per game at 16.5. Overall, they are shooting 38% from beyond the arc, which is 2nd in the league.

Despite their high-scoring offense, the Celtics are just 14th in the NBA in assists at 26.8 per game. In terms of pace, they are 19th in the league at 97.3 possessions per game.

At this time, the Celtics’ defense is positioned 5th in the NBA, permitting 109.2 points per game. The Boston defense has allowed opponents to shoot 34.6% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 45.2% of their field goal attempts vs. Boston.

Will Milwaukee Win at Home?

In their games this season, the Bucks have averaged a combined scoring total of 236.6 points per game compared to today’s line of 228. Their games have averaged an over/under line of 235 points.

Currently, the Bucks are 3-9 as the underdog this season and have gone 5-7 ATS as the underdog. As the underdog, they have an average scoring differential of -12.2 points per game.

Against the spread, Milwaukee is 17-23 at home and 16-22 on the road. Overall, they are 33-45 ATS for the season and have failed to cover the spread in their last four games.

The Bucks are coming off a 122-109 loss to the Knicks, where they were favored by 4 points. The O/U line for that game was 220.5 points, and the teams combined for 231 points.

Looking at the Eastern Conference standings, the Bucks are currently in 2nd place with a record of 47-31. In their division, they are in 1st place, going 10-7 against Central Division opponents.

So far this season, the Bucks have gone 39-39 on the O/U, and today’s line is set at 228 points. In their last four games, they have failed to cover the spread and have an ATS record of 28-38 as the favorite.

At home, the Bucks are averaging 121.7 points per game this season, which is 5th in the NBA. Overall, Milwaukee is 4th in the league in scoring at 119.7 points per game.

In terms of pace, the Bucks are 5th in the NBA at 100.3 possessions per game. They are also 5th in the league in three-point attempts, averaging 38.3 per game.

When it comes to field goal percentage, Milwaukee is 7th in the NBA at 48%. However, they are just 25th in offensive rebounds.

The Bucks’ defense is presently ranked 22nd in the league, allowing an average of 116.8 points per contest. On two point field goal attempts, the Bucks’ defensive unit is allowing a field goal percentage of 54.0% and allowing 35.6% from beyond the arc.