Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics Prediction, 12/23/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics

Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Milwaukee (-2)

The Milwaukee Bucks (56-17 last year) are headed to TD Garden on Wednesday where they'll meet the Boston Celtics (48-24 last season). Milwaukee opens this matchup as 2-point favorites. The total has been set at 226.

Milwaukee enters this matchup after finishing with a record of 56-17 last season. The Bucks hit on 35.5% from downtown (1,007 of 2,840) and 74.2% from the free throw line. They had an average of 118.7 pts per contest (1st in basketball) while going 47.6% from the floor. They lost possession by turning the ball over 15.1 times per game and as a basketball team committed 19.6 personal fouls on a nightly basis. As a basketball team, Milwaukee snagged 51.7 boards per game and totaled 1,889 dimes last season, which ranked 6th in the league in terms of passing. When they were on the defensive end, the Bucks were able to force 14.1 turnovers on a nightly basis and they drew 21.7 personal fouls. They were 19th in the league in giving up assists to the opposition with 1,764 surrendered last season. The Bucks defense gave up an opponent shooting percentage of 41.4% (2,843 of 6,862) and they conceded 45.8 boards per game as a team. They surrendered 35.5% on 3-pointers and they were ranked 8th in basketball in PPG allowed (108.6).

The Milwaukee Bucks played the Miami Heat and took a loss by a final of 103-94 in their last contest. Milwaukee wrapped up the game having earned a 36.3% FG percentage (33 out of 91) and made 9 of their 33 shots from distance. At the free throw line, the Bucks knocked down 19 of their 26 tries for a rate of 73.1%. When discussing getting rebounds, they collected 41 with 13 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 20 assists in this contest as well as getting 7 steals and 5 blocks. In the matter of defending, Milwaukee allowed the other team to shoot 47.9% from the floor on 35 out of 73. Miami doled out 21 assists and 6 steals for the contest. Furthurmore, the Heat collected 48 rebounds (5 offensive, 43 defensive) and added 7 blocks. Miami finished the game at 91.7% at the charity stripe by knocking down 22 of their 24 shots. They converted 11 of 31 attempts from three-point range.

Khris Middleton is someone who saw a lot of action in this contest. He walked away with 23 points on 8 of 25 shooting. He saw the court for 41:49 and also grabbed 7 boards. Middleton finished the game shooting 32.0% from the floor and also distributed 6 assists. Someone else that saw the court a lot in the matchup for the Bucks was Brook Lopez. He collected 14 boards and also accounted for 2 dimes. He finished the game at 43.8% from the floor in the game by going 7-of-16 (15 points). When the game finished, Lopez played 36:47.

Boston had a mark of 48-24 last year. The Celtics were responsible for committing 21.6 personal fouls every game while shooting 80.1% from the free throw line. They dished out assists 23.0 times per game (25th in basketball) and they lost possession via turnover 13.8 times per game. Boston scored 8,183 points last season (113.7 per game) and they grabbed 46.1 rebounds per game. As an offense, the Celtics shot 46.1% from the floor, which ranked them 17th in the NBA. The Celtics on the defensive end were ranked 2nd in basketball in points per game surrendered with 107.3. The Boston defense allowed 34.0% on 3-point shots (851 of 2,504) and their opponents converted on 76.7% of their free throw shots. They forced 15.2 turnovers per game and allowed teams to shoot 44.1% from the floor (4th in basketball). They conceded 22.4 dimes and 44.3 boards on a nightly basis, which was ranked 2nd and 11th in those defensive categories.

When they last played, the Boston Celtics walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 125-113 against the Miami Heat. The Celtics were able to corral 29 defensive boards and 13 offensive rebounds totaling 42 in this matchup. They turned away 2 attempts while recording 7 steals in the game. The Heat had 13 fouls in this game which took the Celtics to the charity stripe for a total of 15 attempts. They were able to make 12 of the free throw tries for a percentage of 80.0%. With regard to shots from beyond the perimeter, Boston buried 15 out of 46 tries (32.6%). In all, the Celtics went 43 out of 99 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 43.4%. The Celtics allowed the Heat to make 45 out of their 80 attempts from the floor which had them at 56.3% for the contest. They went 48.1% from behind the 3-point line by connecting on 13 out of 27 and finished the contest at 22 out of 26 at the charity stripe (84.6%). In reference to cleaning the glass, Boston permitted Miami to get 40 in all (2 on the offensive glass).

Jayson Tatum saw the court a lot for the Celtics in this contest. He made 9 out of 26 for the contest giving him a field goal percentage of 34.6%, which had him sitting at 24 points. Tatum pulled down 7 boards in his 43:54 of time on the court and had 11 assists for this contest. An additional guy that played a role for Boston was Jaylen Brown. He finished with 26 points in his 40:22 on the court by going 10 out of 17 shooting in this game. Brown ended up shooting 58.8% from the floor and also earning 4 assists and 8 boards.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Milwaukee (-2)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here