The Milwaukee Bucks (11-10) and Boston Celtics (18-4) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
The Celtics are 8.5-point home favorites over the Bucks (Celtics -8.5), with the over/under set at 227.5 total points. Boston is a -355 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Milwaukee is +280 to pull off the upset.
Let's get to my Bucks vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks for Friday, December 6.
Bucks vs. Celtics Picks, Prediction
Spread
My Celtics vs. Bucks best bet is on Boston to cover the spread (-8.5), with the best line available at bet365. But as always, be sure to shop for the best price using our live NBA odds page.
Moneyline
I do not have a moneyline pick for this contest. However, I will be backing the Celtics in a different market tonight.
Over/Under
I'm staying away from the total in this spot.
My Pick: Celtics -8.5
Bucks vs. Celtics Odds
| Bucks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 227.5 -110 / -110 | +280 |
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 227.5 -110 / -110 | -355 |
- Bucks vs Celtics spread: Celtics -8.5
- Bucks vs Celtics over/under: 227.5 points
- Bucks vs Celtics moneyline: Celtics -355, Bucks +280
- Bucks vs Celtics best bet: Celtics -8.5
Bucks vs. Celtics NBA Friday
The Bucks head to Boston as they continue their climb up the Eastern Conference after an extremely rough start. The Celtics have already taken the first two games against the Bucks this season despite strong games from Giannis both times and a victory here would seal the season series for Boston.
The notable thing for Boston is this may be the first game of the season everyone is available to play. However, Jayson Tatum (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (PTT), and Al Horford (toe) are all listed as Questionable.
It is the front-end of a back-to-back for Boston, but considering Saturday's game is against Memphis, Boston may prefer trying to secure a win against an Eastern Conference opponent. The Bucks have listed Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee, probable) and MarJon Beauchamp (neck, questionable) on the injury report, but the notable change is that Khris Middleton (ankle) will make his season debut tonight.
Middleton will provide a critical boost to this team's offensive versatility in the long run; however, it's his first game back, and I would expect him to be on a minutes restriction, and the offense may be a little clunky to start.
When the trio of Lillard, Middleton, and Giannis were on the court last season, they were absolutely nails. They had a +16.3 point differential and scored 125.6 points per 100, per Cleaning the Glass. They might get there later on this season, but I doubt they will hit the ground running in his first game back.
Boston and Milwaukee both take a high frequency of 3-pointers, but Boston is breaking the mold and is making 19.1 per game, while Milwaukee is making 14.6.
This is a significant edge to bring into any matchup, but especially against a Milwaukee team that is below average overall defending the 3-ball with their opponents shooting 37.2% from long range. They specifically get evicerated from the corner at 42.6%, a spot that Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard thrive from. I'll look for Pritchard 3s here.
Bucks vs. Celtics Predictions, Best Bets
Boston has greater continuity at this point and has the edge from beyond the arc. While Middleton's return is meaningful for the Bucks' longterm prospects, I think it may be overrated from an impact perspective in this spot.
For a SGP I'll take Celtics -7.5, Pritchard 2+ 3s, and Giannis 4+ Assists (a number he's hit in 89% of games this season).
Best Bet: Celtics -8.5 (-110)
Same Game Parlay: Giannis Antetokounmpo 4+ Assists, Payton Pritchard 2+ Three-Pointers, Celtics -8.5 (+230)
Celtics vs. Bucks Betting Trends
