The stretch run begins in earnest now that the All-Star Break has come and gone. The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA and would love to hold on to that for the postseason, but have a tough game coming out of the break. The Bucks are at home but they are going to be hosting the Boston Celtics in a matchup of Eastern Conference elite.
Even though Boston was the preseason favorite to come out of the East, the Bucks have been the superior team all year long and will be the team to beat in this contest. Despite more inconsistency than it would have preferred in the first half, the Celtics are a talented team and cannot be dismissed in this showdown.
Both sides are aiming to get off to a hot start after the All-Star Break and this will be an intriguing contest in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks will be held at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 21st, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on TNT.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NBA season.
Odds Analysis
The Celtics have a record of 37-21 on the season. They have won two in a row and seven of their past 10. Boston would love to go on a big-time winning streak down the stretch and track down the East’s top teams. A head-to-head win over the Bucks almost seems like a prerequisite to doing so.
The Bucks are 43-14 on the season. They have also won two in a row and eight of their past 10 overall. Milwaukee is only a game ahead of the Raptors for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference so it cannot afford to slip up. The Bucks are 23-5 at home on the season which is a big reason why it should be favored in NBA odds.
Season Series
These teams have faced off twice this year and split the matchups. Boston claimed the first game by a score of 117-113. The Celtics jumped out to a big lead in that one heading into the fourth quarter and then held off the hard-charging Bucks. Kyrie Irving had 28 points in the game and Boston hit a franchise-record 24 three-pointers for the win.
Milwaukee got revenge in the rematch, coming away with a 120-107 win. The Bucks dominated this one from the start, going ahead by 13 points after one quarter and never looking back. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 30 points.
Player To Watch
Gordon Hayward -- If Boston is to live up to expectations this season, it needs Hayward to get back to his prior form. The former Utah star was signed in free agency last year but missed almost the entire season due to injury. He has not reverted back to star status as he is only averaging 11.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Hayward is a good shooter and a smart player, but the injury seems to have sapped some of his explosion. The Celtics are hoping Hayward can find a groove down the stretch and add another option alongside Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Celtics finished the first half of the season playing well and should be able to hang around in this one. However, the Bucks are playing at a really high level and get the game at home. Milwaukee has proven it was not an early-season fluke by continuing to dominate all year.
It will pick up another key victory over the Celtics. Check the spread to see which team is the right choice to cover in NBA wagering.
NBA ATS Pick: Milwaukee Bucks 119, Boston Celtics 113
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