After each team registered a double digit payout win in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinal series, we finally had a close game with the Milwaukee Bucks beating the Boston Celtics, 103-101, in the pivotal Game 3. That was more like what most expected from the conference heavyweights who each won 51 games while splitting the four-game regular season series. At this point the clubs are quite familiar with each other with many players still in uniform from when the clubs met in the second round back in 2019. What it comes down to now is what team executes better and, as in the case of Game 3, gets some breaks from the officiating crew. That typically benefits the home team so it looks like the Celtics have the edge.
The NBA Playoff game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics air live on TNT with tip off at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 from TD Garden in Boston. BookMaker.eu will have betting options for every game on the NBA playoff schedule.
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Playoff Analysis
Playoff games on the road aren’t going to bother the Bucks. They went 6-6 SU and ATS in last year’s playoffs en route to their first NBA championship in 50 years. While they were just .500, they came up big when they needed to closing out each of the first three series with a road victory. The biggest of those was probably in the second round against Brooklyn. After dropping the first three games of the series in Brooklyn by an average of more than 17 points, the Bucks game up large in a 115-111 overtime win in Game 7. They also beat Miami by 17 points in Game 4 of their first round sweep and won 118-107 in Atlanta to secure the Eastern Conference crown. All their road games this postseason have been lopsided affairs with the Bucks going 3-1 SU and ATS. After losing Game 2 at home to the Bulls, the Bucks showed no mercy winning the next two by 30 and 24 points. They won Game 1 of this series 101-89 before suffering their first road loss 109-86 in Game 2.
The Celtics aren’t going to let one perceived missed call ruin their chances of knocking off the defending champs. But it appeared to be a huge miss late in Game 3 costing Boston a chance to at least tie the game and maybe getting an impactful road win. The play occurred late in the fourth quarter with the Celtics down by three. Marcus Smart had the ball looking for a three-point shot and was fouled with the refs saying it occurred on the floor. Smart and the Celtics claimed otherwise, but the officials didn’t change the call. Instead Smart made one free throw and intentionally missed the second with Boston having several point blank attempts to tie the game. They failed and lost for just the second time this postseason.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks know what it’s like to tighten up defensively in the postseason. They were the most efficient defensive club last postseason and it got them a world title. They’ve been able to clamp down again holding teams to an average of 96.9 points. It’s led to them cashing the UNDER in each of their first eight playoff encounters.
The one thing the Bucks have that no other team does is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP is averaging nearly 30 points, but his defense has been outstanding. And the Bucks have to be good at that end with second-leading scorer Khris Middleton sidelined for the series.
Boston Celtics
Having been so good for a long stretch of time it’s hard to imagine the Celtics losing. As infrequent as it’s happened since late January it does happen. And it’s the playoffs with the intensity level going up another level. A home loss to Portland on Jan. 21 dropped Boston to 23-24 with the playoffs looking more like a dream.
The Cs closed the season with a remarkable turnaround going 28-7 with the NBA’s top offense and defense in that stretch. They rolled to a four-game sweep of the Nets in the opening round and now face adversity for the first time in months.
Bucks at Celtics NBA Odds Pick
The Celtics know what’s coming and they’re still powerless to stop it. They did limit Antetokounmpo to 38.5 percent shooting in the first two games and hope home cooking deals up another serving of solid defense. If so the Celtics will get a big win in Game 5.
NBA Odds Prediction: Boston Celtics / UNDER
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