Milwaukee (2-2) at Boston (2-2)
When: Tuesday, April 24th 2018
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: NBA TV
Opening Odds: Boston -3/204
The Boston Celtics are hoping the home court will help cure their first half woes they suffered in their last two road games when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in the pivotal Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first round series on Tuesday night. After trailing by as many as 28 points in the Game 3 loss at Milwaukee, Boston once again fell behind early, scoring just 35 first half points, but rallied late before Giannis Antetokounmpo tipped in Malcolm Brogdon’s missed floater for the game-winning bucket with 5.1 seconds remaining as the host Milwaukee Bucks beat the Boston Celtics 104-102 in Game 4 Sunday to even the series at 2-2. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 27 points, while Khris Middleton added 23 and the Bucks recorded 14 blocks, five of which came from Thon Maker. Milwaukee’s John Henson (back) missed his second straight game, giving Tyler Zeller the start once again, but it was backup center Maker who benefited most from the minutes created by Henson’s absence. After scoring 14 points with five rebounds and five blocks in Game 2, Maker had eight points, two rebounds and five blocks Sunday. Boston has never lost a playoff series when leading 2-0, while Milwaukee has never won a series after starting in an 0-2 hole.
Backup forward Jabari Parker was a different player once the Bucks got home, averaging 16.5 points, six rebounds, two blocked shots and 1.5 steals after totaling two points and six rebound with no blocks or steals in the first two games. Milwaukee needed a third scorer as Middleton (25.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) had been the lone consistent compliment to the ‘Greek Freak’, who is averaging 27.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists. The 14 blocks Milwaukee recorded in Game 4 was a franchise record, and they may get Henson (questionable) back on Tuesday.
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Shooting guard Jaylen Brown continues to be the scoring threat with the absence of star guard Kyrie Irving (out for playoffs), delivering 34 points, eight rebounds and three steals in Game 4. It was the second 30-point effort of the series for Brown, who made five 3-pointers in two of the past three games while averaging a team-best 23.8 points in the series. Point guard Terry Rozier’s production dropped with the change of venue, averaging 9.5 points on 5-of-19 shooting in the two losses after averaging 23 points over the first two games in Boston.
This could easily be one of those series where the home team wins every game, but I’m still picking the Bucks to win this series, which means they have to win one at TD Garden. This is going to be that one. The Bucks have been outplayed in only one game thus far (Game 2) and have the better team with Antetokounmpo and Middleton leading the way. Look for Eric Bledsoe to contribute in this one as well. I’ll take the upset here.
Pick: Bucks +3
- Bucks are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win.
- Bucks are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Bucks are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Bucks are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Bucks are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Bucks are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Bucks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Bucks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Bucks are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 Tuesday games.
- Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.
- Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Central.
- Celtics are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.
- Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Celtics are 24-8 ATS in their last 32 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Celtics are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Celtics are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Celtics are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Celtics are 46-22-1 ATS in their last 69 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-0 in Bucks last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 11-0 in Bucks last 11 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Over is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Over is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 14-2 in Bucks last 16 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Over is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 13-3 in Bucks last 16 road games.
- Over is 18-5 in Bucks last 23 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 17-5 in Bucks last 22 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 17-5 in Bucks last 22 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 20-6 in Bucks last 26 overall.
- Over is 16-5 in Bucks last 21 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 16-5 in Bucks last 21 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 35-16-1 in Bucks last 52 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 6-0 in Celtics last 6 home games.
- Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 6-0 in Celtics last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Celtics last 6 vs. NBA Central.
- Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 6-0 in Celtics last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Over is 6-0-1 in Celtics last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 6-0 in Celtics last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 10-1 in Celtics last 11 overall.
- Over is 6-2 in Celtics last 8 Tuesday games.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Celtics last 21 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Over is 39-14-1 in Celtics last 54 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Over is 20-8 in Celtics last 28 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 10-1-1 in the last 12 meetings in Boston.
- Over is 13-3-1 in the last 17 meetings.
- Bucks are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Boston.
- Bucks are 1-6 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
