Celtics vs. Bucks prediction, tips and odds for today's NBA game

After a tough loss to the Warriors on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics returned to the win list with an overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Conversely, the Bucks lost to the Knicks on Friday, suffering their seventh defeat in the last eight games.

To say that the Bucks have had a rocky start to the season would be an understatement, and my Celtics vs. Bucks predictions are that Milwaukee will struggle at home.

Read my NBA picks to see why you should pick the Celtics and the points.

Celtics vs Bucks Prediction

My best choice
Celtics -4 (-110 at bet365)

My analysis

The Milwaukee Bucks are just 2-7 this season and are only ahead of the recovering Toronto Raptors and the injury-plagued Philadelphia 76ers at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. With an aging and flat roster and several key injuries, Milwaukee is a true two-man show with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard doing the heavy lifting.

Khris Middleton will miss Sunday, and both Gary Trent Jr. and Andre Jackson Jr. are questionable. Trent Jr. started the season with the first unit and Jackson Jr. recently replaced him. The Bucks have struggled to find a reliable scoring threat to complement the two superstars, and Sunday's injury report suggests those issues will continue.

The Bucks' offense ranks 20th with a measly 111 points per game, while their defense has allowed the 10th-most points with 116. Milwaukee is just 3-6 ATS this season. At 8-2, the Boston Celtics are off to a hot start to the season and are one of only two teams (11-0 Cleveland Cavaliers) with records above .500 in the Eastern Conference.

Boston's offense ranks second with 120.9 points scored, and the C's have allowed the 10th fewest points per game with 109.9. Boston's +11 point differential is fourth-best in the association, and the team is 5-5 ATS. Boston's talent and depth are too much for the struggling Bucks, so I'm picking the Celtics to take them on the road today.

Same game between Celtics and Bucks

Celtics -4

Antetokounmpo records a double-double

Lillard Over 24.5 points

Giannis' double-double odds are far too low to bet straight up, but this is a nice prop we can add to our game to increase the odds and provide a layer of security. The Greek Freak leads Milwaukee with 30.1 points per game and is comfortably ahead of the Bucks in rebounding with 12.8 points. He has posted a double-double in every game he has played this season, including a 30/10/6 game against the Celtics in the team's first meeting. Giannis will be heavily involved here and there is no reason to bet on his double-double streak failing here.

Lillard's point line is 26.5, but I'm setting it two points lower for another most likely addition to our bet. Lillard is averaging 27.3 points per game this season and when he faced the Celtics earlier this season he dropped 33. He has five 30-point games to his name, including three in his last four appearances. Lillard has scored at least 25 points six times this season, and I bet he can do it again tonight. He and Giannis carry the offense every game, and that should be the case again.

Learn how to place a bet in the same game with these helpful tips and strategies.

Celtics vs Bucks odds

Celtics vs Bucks live odds

Celtics vs. Bucks opening odds

• Spread: Boston -4 (-115) | Milwaukee +4 (-105)
• Money line: Boston -190 | Milwaukee +160
• Over/Under: Over 228 (-110) | Under 228 (-110)

Odds courtesy of bet365.

Celtics vs. Bucks spread and over/under analysis

• Boston is currently 8-2 this season, but the team is just 5-5 ATS.
• Milwaukee has the second-worst record in the East at 2-7, and the team is 3-6 ATS entering the 2024-25 season.
• The Celtics' offense has scored the second-most points per game this season, but the team is 4-5-1 under.
• The Bucks have found it difficult to score goals and stop opposing offenses, and the team is 3-6 in nine games.

Trend Celtics vs Bucks

Boston has won seven of the last 10 head-to-head meetings, including a 119-108 victory on October 28th. The teams split two games each in the 2023-24 regular season, with Milwaukee covering all four games and the Unders beating in three of four. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Bucks.

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