Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics: Odds, Analysis, NBA Betting Pick
November 1, 2018
The Milwaukee Bucks (7-0) will try to stay perfect Thursday, when they get their star player back in the lineup and travel to Boston to face the Boston Celtics (5-2) as small road underdogs at sportsbooks.
The Bucks are the lone unbeaten team left and will have All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (concussion) available after he was cleared to play.
NBA point spread: The Celtics opened as two-point favorites; the total is at 215, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.
NBA betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 113.5-101.3, Bucks. NBA picks on every game.
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Why the Bucks Can Cover the Spread
Antetokounmpo is one of the early favorites to win NBA MVP honors if he can just stay healthy, averaging 25 points and 14.2 rebounds while playing in six of seven games for Milwaukee. The Bucks found a way to stay undefeated without him Monday, knocking off the previously unbeaten Toronto Raptors 124-109 as two-point home underdogs. The Raptors were 6-0 and playing without Kawhi Leonard.
Milwaukee saw seven players score in double figures in the win, including three off the bench. Rookie Donte DiVincenzo was one of the three reserves, totaling 12 points and eight rebounds.
Why the Celtics Can Cover the Spread
The Celtics knocked out the Bucks in seven games when they met in the first round of the playoffs in April, with the home team winning and covering the spread each time. In fact, Boston has won eight of the past 10 meetings straight up with Milwaukee at TD Garden, going 7-3 against the spread in those games, dating back to 2016, according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
The Celtics have won their past three games (2-1 ATS) following a mediocre 2-2 start that saw them fail to cover three of their first four. Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 31 points in Tuesday's 108-105 win over the Detroit Pistons, who lost in back-to-back games after starting 4-0.
Smart Betting Pick
The Bucks have played just two road games this year, with different results. This is by far their toughest of the first three, and the recent ATS results between them and the Celtics speak for themselves. Regardless of whether Antetokounmpo plays, Boston will be primed to prove itself as the beast of the East. Take the Celtics.
NBA Betting Trends
The total has gone over in 17 of Milwaukee's past 22 games.
The total has gone over in nine of Milwaukee's past 11 games on the road.
Boston is 12-3 ATS in its past 15 games at home.
All NBA odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.