The Boston Celtics were a fashionable choice to get upset in the first round of the playoffs, but they have grabbed control of their first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks through two games. Boston won both games at home and can take a commanding lead with a Game 3 victory in Milwaukee.
The Bucks were close to pulling off the upset in Game 1 but fell short. Now their backs are against the wall but the team will be the favorite to get back in the series with a win next time out. The Celtics are missing their two best players in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward but are still rolling along as they look like good bets to make the Eastern Conference semifinals.
This is a pivotal game in this series in NBA basketball odds.
Game 3 of this NBA Playoff Series is on Friday, April 20m 2018 at 9:30 p.m. ET at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The contest will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Odds Analysis
The Bucks are listed as 6.5-point favorites to win this contest, which some people may see as high considering the results of the first two games. Not surprisingly, the Celtics are getting more than 85 percent of the action to cover.
The scoring total is listed at 202.5 points as this one is expected to be a grind-it-out affair even though the last one had plenty of points. The “over” is the more popular choice.
The Bucks are -285 favorites to win Game 3, while the Celtics are the +234 underdogs to win and take total control of the series.
Last Time Out
Boston strung together another strong performance from start to finish in Game 2. Behind big performances from their young players, the Celtics defeated the Bucks 120-106.
Guard Jaylen Brown, who is in his second season in the league, finished with a team-high 30 points for Boston in the win and Terry Rozier, a third-year player, added 23 points. The Bucks were the better shooting team, but Boston’s ball movement kept Milwaukee at bay.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was electric one again, finishing with 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks, but it wouldn’t be enough. Just as they begun to close the gap in the final quarter, Boston found another gear and ignited on a late run that would put the game away.
Player To Watch
Eric Bledsoe —The Bucks guard has gotten into a war of words with Rozier and is losing the battle on the court. He is the bigger name, but Bledsoe has not made a positive impact thus far in the series.
He had just nine points and four assists in Game 1 while shooting just 4-of-12 from the field and committing five turnovers. He also fouled out of the contest.
Bledsoe scored 12 points and had seven rebounds in Game 2 and again shot only 5-of-13 from the field. He needs to be more efficient and play better overall in Game 3.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Celtics have looked good in the first two games but these teams are too evenly matched for Boston to cruise through the first round. The Bucks are going home and should feed off the energy. Even though the point spread is higher than most thought it would be, Milwaukee is the choice to cover in NBA basketball wagering.
The Bucks haven’t played a great game quite yet and should be able to get out and run. The “over” is the choice in this contest as Milwaukee is going to shoot well from the field and force the Celtics to pick up the pace.
NBA ATS Pick: Bucks 108, Celtics 100
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