Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals pits the Boston Celtics against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum at 7:30 Eastern time.
Milwaukee leads the series 2-1 after a 103-101 victory in Game 3 that came down to the wire, with the Celtics squandering an opportunity to force overtime by a fraction of a second. In the win, Giannis Antetokounmpo exploded for 42 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
While Boston’s Jaylen Brown scored 27 points in the loss. The Bucks enter the contest as -1 point home favorites, with the total set at 212 points.
Celtics Come Up Just Short in Game 3
The Celtics must recover to avoid falling behind in this series after rallying from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, narrowly missing out on a chance at overtime.
Boston had the best defense in the NBA before this series, allowing only 104.5 points per game while holding opponents to 43.5 percent shooting from the field and under 34 percent from outside the arc.
The Celtics’ defense has not been a concern in this series, limiting a formidable Milwaukee offense to under 97 points per game. However, they have struggled to contain Giannis, who has averaged over 31 points so far in the series.
On offense, Boston entered the series in the middle of the pack, with the 12th-best scoring offense in the league, averaging just under 112 points per game. From the field, they convert 46.5 percent, including 35.5 percent from beyond the arc.
They have averaged about 100 points per game in the first three games of this series, but shooting has been a huge concern in their two losses. They rebounded with an outstanding effort in Game 2 after shooting a dismal 33 percent in Game 1, only to follow that up with another stinker in Game 3 as they shot below 37 percent.
After a poor 4/19 shooting performance, they will need a much stronger performance from Jayson Tatum in Game 4. Despite this, Al Horford stepped up, grabbing 16 rebounds and 22 points in Game 3, while Jaylen Brown let the Celtics with 27 points while also securing 12 rebounds.
Bucks look to Take 3-1 Advantage
There were a lot of questions about how the reigning champions would match up with the surging Celtics without their #2 scoring option, Khris Middleton, entering the series.
Milwaukee has passed the first part of the exam with flying colors, and they appear to be on their way to reclaiming the Eastern Conference title.
With a 2-1 lead in the series, they have a great chance to take control of the series by defending home court on Monday night. The Bucks are third in the NBA in scoring, averaging 115.5 points per game and shooting close to 47% from the field. Be that as it may, this series has been tough sledding against a tenacious Boston defense.
The Bucks have done an outstanding job on the defensive side of the ball, suffocating Boston’s interior attack and forcing them to settle for long-range jumpers. The results have been impressive, holding Jayson Tatum to 21.2 % shooting and just ten points in Game 3.
The Bucks also had a 54-48 rebounding advantage, which played a crucial role in their Game 3 win. They will likely suffocate the Celtics’ attack once again if they can dominate the glass and minimize Boston’s second-chance opportunities.
Celtics/Bucks Betting Prediction
The Celtics squandered their chance to reclaim the home-court advantage, and this game may come back to haunt them in this series.
Even if Tatum rebounds from his horrific Game 3, Jaylen Brown isn’t guaranteed to have another great game, and Al Horford surely has to come back to earth after posting a big game.
The most consistent player on the court is Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Fiserv Forum is a regular house of horrors for opposition teams. Additionally, Milwaukee has the size and length to compete for boards and force the Celtics to take difficult shots.
The Celtics being restricted to 36.8% shooting was no fluke from a Bucks club that kept them to less than 100 points on average throughout the series. Milwaukee doesn’t lose at home, and I think they handle the Celtics easily in this one.
Betting Pick: Bucks -1
100% up to $3,000 Bonus
Bovada is our most recommended ONLINE CASINO and POKER ROOM for US players with excellent deposit options. Get your 100% signup bonus today.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.