Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 12/21/2018

Friday, December 21, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Milwaukee Bucks travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Friday, December 21, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 3 point favorites.

The Bucks have a record of 21-9. They are 1st in the Central Division. They have a point differential of 8.8 as they average 117.8 points per game while giving up 109.0 per contest. The Celtics have an overall mark of 18-12. They currently are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They total 111.2 points per contest and give up 104.3, which is a point differential of 6.9.

Valuable Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Bucks are 15-13-1 against the spread

The Milwaukee Bucks are 15-14-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 15-14-0 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 17-12-0 against the over/under

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

12/19/18 F Ersan Ilyasova Nose is questionable Friday vs Boston

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/19/18 F Al Horford Knee is questionable Friday vs Milwaukee
12/19/18 C Aron Baynes Hand is out indefinitely
12/19/18 F Marcus Morris Knee is questionable Friday vs Milwaukee

Player Spotlight

Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 26.7 points per game in 33.9 minutes per contest. He averages 6.1 assists per contest and 12.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 59% for the year while his free throw percentage is 70%. Khris Middleton comes into this contest averaging 17.4 points per game while playing 31.1 minutes per night. He pulls down 5.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is at 87%.

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum averages 16.7 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.5 rebounds per contest and 1.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 84%. Kyrie Irving averages 22.9 points per game while playing 31.9 minutes per contest. He grabs 4.8 rebounds per game and has 6.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bucks allow 109.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 11th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 22nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.0 rebounds a game which ranks 11th, and they give up 24.5 assists per contest which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league. Milwaukee averages 117.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.8 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 6th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 16th in the league. They average 49.8 rebounds per game and 26.5 assists per contest, which ranks them 1st and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 14th with 14.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Celtics surrender 104.3 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 22.1 assists allowed per contest, and 18th with 45.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 25th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.8 per game. Boston is 14th in the league with 111.2 points per game this year. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 6.9. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 6th in the NBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 46.1 boards per game and 7th in assists per contest with 25.2. The Celtics are 24th in turnovers per game with 13.2.

Advanced Statistics

The Bucks are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114.1, and their defensive rating of 105.6 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 102.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shots, ranking 2nd in the league. Milwaukee is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 26th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 30th in the league. The Celtics are 13th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.1, and their defensive rating of 104.2 is ranked 3rd. In terms of pace they are 21st in the league with 99 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 9th. As a team they are 15th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 3rd in the league.

Who will win tonight's Bucks/Celtics NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Boston -3

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