With two games left to play, the Boston Celtics are sitting in the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed. They can keep that playoff positioning with a win on Thursday night against the defending NBA Champions.
The Milwaukee Bucks, losers of two of their last three, enter the pre-weekend affair as decent-sized favorites despite absences from Brook Lopez–something the 2020-21 kingpins have been dealing with during their entire title defense season–and Grayson Allen. Wesley Matthews would likely draw the start in that scenario, with plenty of Pat Connaughton off the pine as well.
These two teams last played in the postseason back in 2019, when Giannis Antetokounmpo announced his arrival and bounced the Kyrie Irving-led Boston Celtics out of the postseason and out of existence.
They could be opposite each other in the second round of the postseason bracket if the Bucks can stay ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers as a No. 3 seed, though. Boston isn’t safe from sliding behind these two teams themselves, and needs to do what it can to solidify the No. 2 seed to avoid that conversation altogether.
Will the Cs figure out a way to win their fourth straight on Thursday night or will Milwaukee pick up a much-needed victory at home?
Hardwood Houdini lays a prediction and provides the odds, spread, and TV channel for the penultimate game of the 2021-22 Celtics season at the Fiserv Forum:
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee odds, spread, over/under
According to WynnBet, the Celtics are 6-point underdogs against the Bucks on the road. Milwaukee is a -240 favorite at home, with the Cs moneyline set at +190. The over/under for the game has been placed at 228 points.
Celtics vs. Bucks TV channel
TNT will be the national television home of the Celtics and Bucks on Thursday night.
Celtics vs. Bucks prediction
The Bucks are laying six points in this one, and have every reason to snap out of their malaise in the dying months of the NBA’s regular season.
Boston has been way to good not to take that six points, though, even on the road.