Free NBA Pick: Bucks vs. Celtics NBA Odds
Looking for Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Bucks taking on the Celtics on Sunday, December 25th, 2022 at TD Garden. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Bucks-Celtics matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(22-10) Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics (23-10)
Date: Sunday, December 25th
Time: 5:00 PM EST
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
NBA Moneyline Odds: Bucks +162 | Celtics -200 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Celtics -5
NBA Betting Total: 224
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The middle game of the holiday slate features the top two teams in the Eastern Conference – – the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. It’s the 36th Christmas Day appearance for the Celtics and the ninth for the Bucks.
While some teams have already completed their full season series this is the first time the Celts and Bucks are meeting since the 2022 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals which was a highly entertaining seven-game series.
The clubs will play three matches this season with Milwaukee hosting the next two on February 14th and March 30th.
Both teams last played Friday with the Bucks getting routed 100-118 to the Nets while the Celtics defeated the Wolves 121-109.
Last season, the squads played four times splitting the season series. Boston holds the all-time advantage having won 114 times of the club’s 223 regular-season meetings.
Milwaukee Bucks
After overtaking the Celtics atop the East ladder the Bucks hit a rough patch subsequently dropping back down to second. They’ve lost four of their last seven matches with a couple concerning routs in that mix (Grizzlies, Nets).
Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.4 points, 11.3 rebounds (2.1 offensive boards), 5.2 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game.
He’s shooting 54.1 percent from the field on 20.8 attempts, 25.6 percent from the perimeter on 3.0 attempts, and 64.3 percent from the stripe on 12.6 attempts.
Opponents score the fifth-fewest points versus the Bucks with 109.2 and are limited to the second-lowest (45.1%) field goal percentage and rank ninth for opponent perimeter percentage of 35.0%.
Offensively, the Bucks score 112.5 points per game (17th), while shooting 46.1% from the field (22nd) and 35.0% from the perimeter (17th).
Khris Middleton (knee soreness) is doubtful.
Boston Celtics
After sailing through the initial 26 matches losing just five times the Celtics have lost five of their last seven games and needed overtime in one of the two recent wins (Lakers).
Through 31 games Jayson Tatum is averaging 30.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Tatum attempts 21.3 field goals connecting at 47.1%, 9.2 perimeter shots with a 35.4% success rate, and gets 8.4 free throws per game shooting 85.8%.
The Celtics’ recent struggles are being reflected in the stats which witnessed them drop to second for scoring (they’ve been first all season) averaging 118.1 points per game.
Efficiency-wise they also dropped to 47.6% from the field and 37.6% from the perimeter ranking 12th and 6th respectively.
While there is still work to be done defensively, they are showing signs of improvement on that end with opponents averaging 112.2 points (13th), 46.6% field goal shooting (13th), and 35.1% from the perimeter (10th).
Marcus Smart (hip inflammation) is probable. Danilo Gallinari (ACL repair) is out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.
- The Celtics are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- The Bucks are 2-12 ATS in their last 14 games against Boston.
- The Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 4-1 in Bucks; last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between the clubs in Boston.
Free Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics NBA Prediction:
These two squads have been the best in the association to this point and despite their recent struggles, there is no reason to believe they won’t be in the mix at season end.
That makes this first meeting all the more important as each club wants to draw first blood and establish (at least psychologically) themselves as the favorite.
The key matchup will feature Jrue Holiday guarding Tatum while the Celtics will employ more team defense on Giannis. The other key factor is Middleton who has struggled to shake off the rust after his lengthy absence and may not participate Sunday.
While both teams will be dialed into the moment the Celtics are the more desperate to win given their recent play and even getting booed by the Garden fans in the loss to the Pacers. I’d lean toward Boston winning but I’ll take the points expecting a closely fought match.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Bucks +5
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