There was a great deal of consternation about the Milwaukee Bucks following a bad performance in a Game 1 loss to the Boston Celtics to begin the Eastern Conference semifinals. But Milwaukee is the top seed in the playoffs for a reason and flexed its muscle last time out, cruising to the win to tie the series at 1.
A pivotal Game 3 awaits in Boston, as the Celtics will aim to defend their home court while Milwaukee hopes to secure the win and take control of the series once again. The oddsmakers believe this could be a super competitive showdown, as the Bucks are more talented but Boston gets the luxury of playing at home.
The winner of this game will regain the upper hand in this intriguing series in NBA odds.
This NBA basketball game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics will be held at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, May 3rd, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NBA season.
Odds Analysis
The Celtics have been listed as the slight 1.5-point favorites at home in this one. Boston is listed at -125 on the moneyline while Milwaukee is the +105 underdog to capture this road affair. The scoring total has been listed at 220 points.
The Bucks were able to cover the spread last time out after getting upset in the opening game, and the “over” hit in Game 2 in NBA betting lines.
Last Time Out
The Celtics took a five-point lead after one quarter but it was all Milwaukee after that. The Bucks outscored Boston by 30 points in the middle two quarters, including by 21 points in the third to seize control of the game and run away with the 123-102 win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a fantastic game for Milwaukee, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Khris Middleton added 28 points and was lethal from downtown, nailing 7-of-10 three-point attempts.
None of the Boston stars were impressive, but Kyrie Irving, in particular, really struggled. He shot 4-of-18 from the field and finished with only nine points, five rebounds and four assists. The Celtics need him to be the leader and Irving will have to bounce back in a big way next time out.
Injury Report
Milwaukee point guard Malcolm Brogdon is ramping up his practice activity but still missed Game 2 with a foot injury. He is a pivotal piece, averaging 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season. He seems close to a return and it would be good to check on his status as tip off approaches.
Bucks forward Pau Gasol has missed several games in a row with an ankle injury and did not participate in Game 2. His status seems murky for Game 3 as well but keep an eye out for any developments.
Boston point guard Marcus Smart remains out with an oblique injury.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Celtics are a solid team and not much should be taken from the blowout loss in Game 2. However, Milwaukee finished with the best record in the NBA this season and has more offensive weapons.
This looks like the epitome of a toss-up game, and in those cases it makes sense to roll with the underdog. Take the Bucks to win this game straight up on the moneyline in NBA gambling. The “under” is a good pick as it should have some solid defense played throughout.
NBA ATS Pick: Milwaukee Bucks 108, Boston Celtics 105
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