Celtics vs. Bucks NBA Playoffs Game 3 Odds, Preview and Pick (Archive)
The Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 to even the series. With Milwaukee heading home, can the Bucks take the series lead back over the Celtics? Let’s see what the NBA odds for this matchup tell us!
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Saturday, May 7, 2022 – 03:30 PM EDT at Fiserv Forum
What to Expect from Both Teams?
The Boston Celtics tied the East Semifinals series at one on Tuesday, May 3. After plenty of rest, both of these teams will look for their second win of the series in Fiserv Forum, which is the home of the Bucks.
The Celtics really came alive in Game 2, earning a 109-86 victory. The Bucks still don’t have Khris Middleton available but the Celtics also didn’t have Marcus Smart in Game 2.
That didn’t stop the Celtics from dominating Giannis Antetokounmpo defensively, holding him to 11-of-27 from the floor.
The Celtics also held the Bucks to 3-of-18 from deep in that game and Milwaukee also struggled from the foul line, hitting just 65.2% of looks.
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Celtics vs. Bucks' Plans
But as we’ve seen from the other two games yesterday, home teams are cooking and road teams are struggling.
Yet, the Bucks already earned a win on the road against the Celtics in this series. The Celtics need to steal at least one back.
The Bucks’ game plan is obvious. They want to try and score inside and continue to do that all game.
In Game 2, the Bucks scored 54 points in the paint and just nine points from long range.
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The Bucks have capable shooters but it seemed like Antetokounmpo was just forcing the action and not making the best basketball play in the second half of that game.
Does Antetokounmpo's Strategy Benefits the Celtics?
If the Bucks continue to play that kind of basketball with Antetokounmpo just playing bully-ball, the Celtics could end up winning this game, on the road.
The Bucks are absolutely going to shoot better from the field and the Celtics will probably end up seeing some regression from the field.
However, if the Celtics play well enough on the defensive end, especially with Marcus Smart back, Boston should be able to stick around in this game.
Both teams will earn turnovers but also slow things down and not rush anything.
Prediction
The Celtics shot 46.5% from deep in Game 2. That’s not going to last in Milwaukee.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee is overlooking the three and trying to score as much as they can inside the arc.
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Celtics vs. Bucks: Is Going to be a Low Scoring Game?
Therefore, the under is the play in this game. Neither team was getting to the line at a high rate and Milwaukee isn’t even good at the line, to begin with, because of Antetokounmpo.
In Game 2, the Bucks earned just five offensive rebounds while the Celtics earned seven. Neither team is going to get a whole lot of second-chance points.
Plus, both teams only earned six points in the fastbreak. I’m expecting a low-scoring game in this one.
For your NBA picks, Take the under knowing Milwaukee is going to commit to scoring inside and the Celtics can’t sustain their shooting from Game 2.
NBA Pick: Under 213 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.