Milwaukee (1-1) at Boston (1-1)
When: Friday, May 3rd, 2019
Where: TD Garden,
Boston, MA
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Boston -1.5/220
The Milwaukee Bucks were humiliated at home by the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series and responded in a big way in Game 2 with a 123-102 triumph to even-up their best-of-seven series. The series now shifts to TD Garden as the Celtics try and keep the homecourt advantage going after a big split in Milwaukee. Boston’s Kyrie Irving put together a huge game in Boston’s surprisingly easy 112-90 victory in Game 1, but was a non-factor in Milwaukee’s bounce-back win. The Boston star took 21 shots in a 26-point effort in the series opener, but recorded just nine points in Game 2 and is ready to bounce back. “You know, this is what you live for. Basketball is fun when it comes like this, when you have to respond. This is the type of basketball you want to be playing this time of year.” The Bucks changed things up a little after getting embarrassed in Game 1, moving veteran Nikola Mirotic into the starting lineup in place of Sterling Brown. Mirotic scored just nine points, but that was six more than Brown totaled in Game 1, when Bucks starters Brown, Brook Lopez and Eric Bledsoe combined for just 12 points. In Game 2, Mirotic teamed with Lopez and Bledsoe for 40 after the Bucks produced 90 points on 34.8-percent shooting in the series opener. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 22 points on 7-of-21 shooting in Game 1, came back with 29 points on six fewer shots (7-for-15) in Game 2. He also made two 3-pointers as the Bucks drained 20-of-47 after going 10-for-28 in Game 1. The Celtics had the seventh-best 3-point defense (34.1 percent) at home during the regular season, and limited Indiana to 31.1 percent in two home games in the first round. Both games played in Boston during the regular season came before Christmas with the Celtics earning a four-point win in November, followed by a Bucks 120-107 triumph on December 22nd.
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Milwaukee also got a huge performance Khris Middleton, who scored 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting and has made 46.6 percent of his 3-point attempts after draining 7-of-10 in Game 2. The Bucks could get a boost in the return of shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon (foot), who could be cleared to play for the first time since being injured on March 15th. Brogdon averaged 15.6 points a game during the regular season and was a 42.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc. George Hill added 10 points on Tuesday and led the Bucks with a +27 rating.
The Celtics could get more from small forward Jayson Tatum, who is averaging just 4.5 points on 4-of-17 shooting in the series after averaging 15.7 points during the regular season and 19.3 in the first round versus Indiana. Center Al Horford is averaging 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the series but committed five turnovers in Game 2 for just the second time all season. Power forward Marcus Morris scored a team-best 17 points on Tuesday and is averaging 13 points and seven rebounds in the series.
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It wasn’t a fluke that Milwaukee had the best record in the league this season and part of that was their strong play on the road. They are 29-14 SU and 26-15-2 ATS including the postseason away from home. They either had some nerves or were a little too overconfident in Game 1. Either way, they got back to the basics in Game 2 and shot much better. These next two games in Boston are going to be tight and I like the Bucks in this next one.
Pick: Bucks +2
Bucks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Friday games.
Bucks are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Bucks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Bucks are 8-2-2 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 2 days rest.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
Bucks are 21-7-1 ATS in their last 29 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 road games.
Bucks are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Bucks are 37-17-3 ATS in their last 57 vs. Eastern Conference.
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Celtics are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
Celtics are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Central.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
Celtics are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Conference Semifinals games.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Celtics are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Celtics are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 2 days rest.
Over is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 road games.
Over is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 10-1 in Bucks last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 games following a ATS win.
Over is 9-2 in Bucks last 11 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 16-5 in Bucks last 21 games following a straight up win.
Over is 9-3 in Bucks last 12 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 23-8 in Bucks last 31 games playing on 2 days rest.
Over is 25-9 in Bucks last 34 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Over is 15-6-1 in Bucks last 22 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 7-3 in Bucks last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-3 in Bucks last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 14-2-1 in Celtics last 17 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Over is 6-1 in Celtics last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 6-1 in Celtics last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 8-2 in Celtics last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 9-3 in Celtics last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 13-5 in Celtics last 18 Friday games.
Over is 20-8 in Celtics last 28 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Over is 10-4-1 in Celtics last 15 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 16-5-1 in the last 22 meetings in Boston.
Favorite is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
Over is 15-6-1 in the last 22 meetings.
Bucks are 4-11 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
Bucks are 1-6 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Boston.
