The Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks are on a collision course in the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Which team will draw first blood? Check out our preview below of this Celtics vs. Bucks game.
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Betting Preview for the Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics NBA Playoffs Round 2 Game 1 on May 1, 2022
Where: TD Garden, Boston
When: Sunday, May 1, 2022, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Milwaukee Bucks (+4.5) vs. Boston Celtics (-4.5) – view all 2022-22 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
Betting on the Milwaukee Bucks (+4.5)
Regular Season Record: 51-31
The Celtics absolutely embarrassed the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, waltzing into a sweep of Kevin Durant and company. It was a shocking result, considering how loaded Brooklyn’s roster was, but that also showed just how dangerous the Celtics play as a unit – particularly on the defensive end of the floor. Although the Nets still averaged 109.0 points per game, Boston’s ability to avoid extreme mismatches on defense helped them contain Brooklyn’s top scorers. After dealing with Durant, the Celtics will be taking on the challenge of slowing down Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart on the perimeter and a healthy-again Robert Williams backed up by Al Horford and Daniel Theis in the middle, this Boston squad has what it takes to take care of business on both ends of the floor versus the Bucks. Tatum played three of four Celtics games against Milwaukee in the regular season and averaged 31.3 points in those contests.
The Celtics are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games versus Milwaukee.
Betting on the Boston Celtics (-4.5)
Regular Season Record: 51-31
Unlike the Celtics, the Bucks were not able to sweep their first-round opponent in the form of the Chicago Bulls. Nevertheless, Milwaukee looked incredibly scary in that series that lasted just five rounds. The Bucks dominated Chicago on both ends of the court. Offensively, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks nearly scored at will, as they averaged 109.8 points on 47.2 percent shooting from the field. They also knocked down 14.0 threes on 38 percent accuracy. Milwaukee’s combination of size, length, and outside shooting is expected to give the Celtics’ defense headaches. The trio of Antetokounpo, Bobby Portis, and Brook Lopez can provide Milwaukee the size advantage without significantly losing the Bucks’ ability to stretch the floor. The Bucks will not have Khris Middleton in Game 1 because of a knee issue, but Portis has been showing he can nicely fill the void.
The Under is 3-0 in the Bucks’ last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Bucks win, 115-111.
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