Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 4/17/2018

Tuesday, April 17, 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 Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in Game 2 of their 1st round series. The Celtics lead the series 1-0. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 3 point favorites.

The Bucks had a regular season record of 44-38. They were 3rd in the Central Division. They currently had a point differential of -0.3 as they averaged 106.5 points per game while giving up 106.8 per contest. The Celtics had an overall record of 55-27 during the regular season. They finished the campaign 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They averaged 104.0 points per game and surrendered 100.4, good for a point differential of 3.6.

Valuable Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Bucks are 34-43-5 against the spread

The Milwaukee Bucks are 46-35-1 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 50-30-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 42-38-2 against the over/under

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely
04/05/18 G Kyrie Irving Knee is out for season
03/12/18 F Daniel Theis Knee is out for season
03/12/18 G Marcus Smart Thumb is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Khris Middleton averages 20.1 points per game in 36.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4 assists per contest and 5.2 rebounds per game for Milwaukee. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 88%. Giannis Antetokounmpo comes into this contest averaging 26.9 points per game while playing 36.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Bucks. He pulls down 10 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is currently at 76%.

Player Spotlight

Al Horford averages 12.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.4 rebounds per contest and 4.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 78%. Jayson Tatum averages 13.9 points per game while playing 30.5 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 5 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage currently is at 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bucks allow 106.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 16th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 22nd and 25th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.7 rebounds a game which ranks 12th, and they give up 23.6 assists per contest which puts them in 18th place in the league. They force 15.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 29th in the league. Milwaukee averages 106.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 15th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.3 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 22nd in the league. They average 39.8 rebounds per game and 23.2 assists per game, which ranks them 30th and 14th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 20th with 13.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Celtics surrender 100.4 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 21.3 assists allowed per contest, and 21st with 43.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 10th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game this season. Boston is 20th in the league with 104 points per game this year. They are 21st in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.59. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game and 20th in assists per contest with 22.5. The Celtics are 16th in turnovers per game with 14.

Advanced Statistics

The Bucks are 9th in the league in defensive rating with 110.1, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 12th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 96.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 8th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 25th in the NBA. Milwaukee is 17th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 11th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 16th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 29th in the NBA. The Celtics are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 103.9, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 29th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 15th. As a unit they are 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Milwaukee +3

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