One team’s undefeated record in this year’s playoffs is about to end, as the Boston Celtics (+1,200 to win the NBA title) pay the Milwaukee Bucks (+500) a visit for Game 1 of their second-round series. The Celtics didn’t have Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward when they beat the Bucks last season in the playoffs, but the Bucks are now lead by a much better version of Giannis Antetokounmpo and a souped up roster. Who will draw first blood? Going into Game 1, the sportsbook likes the Bucks by 7.5-points.
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Betting Preview for Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Playoff Round 2 Game 1 on April 28, 2019
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
When: April 28, 2019, 1 PM ET
Line: Boston Celtics (+7.5) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (-7.5) –view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Boston Celtics (49-33 Regular Season)
It was like a walk in the park for the Celtics in the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs, as they edged the Indiana Pacers in just four games. Kyrie Irving was in fine form in that series, leading Boston with 22.5 points per game with a tasty 42.3 percent shooting from deep. While he could be due to suffer regression on his 3-point accuracy, he is still very much capable of turning it on when needed the most. Plus, there are other Celtics who can help him carry the load on offense. Jayson Tatum has proven to be a dependable Robin to Irving’s Batman after putting up 19.3 points on 50.9 percent shooting from the field in the first round. But it’s Terry Rozier who could attract the most attention among Celtics players heading into the second round after his breakout performance in last year’s playoff series win against the Bucks in which he outplayed Eric Bledsoe. Another weapon for Boston is its defense that ranks second in these playoffs with just 91.8 points allowed per game.
Boston is 5-0 against the spread (ATS) in its last five games.
Betting on the Milwaukee Bucks (60-22 Regular Season)
Like the Celtics, Milwaukee had a breeze in the first round, pulverizing the Detroit Pistons in four-straight games. Giannis Antetokounmpo spent all those games showing how dominant of a force he is on the floor, putting up 26.3 points, grabbing 12.0 rebounds, and swatting away 1.5 shots per game. He also shot 52.1 percent from the field. Although the Celtics will provide a bigger challenge and a tighter defense for Antetokounmpo, it’s not like the Greek Freak hasn’t dominated Boston before in this season. In three regular season meetings with Boston, Antetokounmpo had averaged 31.0 points on an incredible 59.3 field goal shooting percentage. But while Antetokounmpo is the main attraction for Milwaukee, people shouldn’t sleep on Khris Middleton, who averaged 24.7 points on 59.8 percent shooting from the floor in last year’s playoff series against the Celtics. With a roster filled with versatile players and mobile big men who can also spread the floor well, the Bucks will give Boston plenty of challenges. Milwaukee is tops in the postseason thus far with 19.8 fastbreak points per game and second with 55.0 points in the paint per contest.
Milwaukee is 6-3-1 ATS in its last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Boston wins, 110-107.
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