Boston (1-0) at Milwaukee (0-1)
When: Tuesday, April 30th, 2019
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -7.5/220.5
The Boston Celtics continued their perfect postseason in 2019 with a dominating performance over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Sunday. They look to continue shutting down Milwaukee’s superstar and improve to 6-0 in the playoffs and completely take homecourt advantage away from the Bucks. Boston opened the series with a 112-90 victory, mostly because of how they defended Giannis Antetokounmpo, who managed to score 22 points but was just 7-of-21 from the field and did not hit his first basket until the second quarter. Antetokounmpo was 4-of-15 in the paint and 2-of-10 when guarded by Al Horford or Aron Baynes. Milwaukee shot 34.8 percent and had 11 shots blocked – their lowest shooting percentage in a postseason game since the first round of 2015 against the Chicago Bulls. If Boston keeps defending the Greek Freak like they did in Game 1, Milwaukee will need contributions from others to help them recover from the third-worst loss by a No. 1 seed in a series opener under the league’s current format. Khris Middleton was held to 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting while Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez finished with a combined nine points on 2-of-10 from the floor. The Celtics are allowing 91.4 points per game in their first five playoff contests and getting enough offense by scoring 101.8 points per game. Boston shot 54 percent from the field – their highest field goal percentage in a conference semifinal game since Game 5 in 2010 at Cleveland.
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Kyrie Irving led the C’s with 26 points and 11 assists while Horford added 20 points and 11 boards. Horford was on the floor at the same time as Antetokounmpo for 22 minutes. During those minutes, Antetokounmpo made 2-of-11 shots, had two shots blocked by Horford as the Bucks posted a 63.3 offensive rating in those minutes. The 32-year-old Horford averaged 11 points and shot 36.1 percent from the field in a first-round sweep of the Indiana Pacers but was in top form in the opener. Shooting guard Jaylen Brown scored 19 points in Game 1 on 8-of-14 shooting.
Milwaukee’s 90 points was the first time they’ve been held below 100 since February 21st, ironically against this Celtics team. Besides Antetokounmpo and Middleton, the other three Milwaukee starters scored just 12 points on 3-of-17 shooting. They did get some contributions from the bench in the form of George Hill and Nikola Mirotic. Hill scored nine points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Mirotic was 5-of-9 and scored 13 points.
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You see it all the time in the NBA, where a road team wins the first game and seems satisfied with going home 1-1. I don’t think that will be the case with this Boston team. They’re well-coached and obviously know how to play defense against Antetokounmpo. The Bucks may win this game, but it will be close.
Pick: Celtics +7.5
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Celtics are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Celtics are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Celtics are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Celtics are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games.
Celtics are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Celtics are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
Celtics are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Central.
Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 Conference Semifinals games.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Tuesday games.
Celtics are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 Tuesday games.
Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Bucks are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 games following a straight up loss.
Bucks are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bucks are 24-8-1 ATS in their last 33 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bucks are 23-9 ATS in their last 32 games following a ATS loss.
Bucks are 36-17-3 ATS in their last 56 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bucks are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Conference Semifinals games.
Under is 8-1 in Celtics last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. NBA Central.
Over is 7-3 in Celtics last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 25-11 in Celtics last 36 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 9-4-1 in Celtics last 14 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 9-3 in Bucks last 12 overall.
Under is 6-2 in Bucks last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 6-2 in Bucks last 8 Conference Semifinals games.
Over is 8-3 in Bucks last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 24-9 in Bucks last 33 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Under is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Under is 7-3 in Bucks last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 14-6-1 in Bucks last 21 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Celtics are 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings in Milwaukee.
Favorite is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
Over is 14-6-1 in the last 21 meetings.
