2 min read • April 07, 2022
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Check out this matchup's Court View here.
The Celtics - 87.3 Team Health Score - will face the Bucks on the back-end of a back-to-back following a blowout win over the Bulls Wednesday night.
Despite losing defensive centerpiece Robert Williams to a torn meniscus last week, Boston has rebounded after a 2-game adjustment period, winning 3 straight games with dominant offensive performances, albeit against the Pacers, Wizards, and Bulls.
Veteran big man Al Horford has led the team in rebounding the last 4 games while scoring in double-figures in each of the last 3 contests, taking the lead frontcourt role alongside Daniel Theis and Grant Williams.
The trio will have the difficult challenge of competing with Antetokounmpo, Lopez, and Portis, who have been highly effective over the last few games.
Jaylen Brown has scored 25-or-more points in each of his last 10 games, adding 5.9 rebounds while shooting 55.7% from the floor as a complement to All-NBA candidate Jayson Tatum.
The Bucks - 89.7 Team Health Score - face the Celtics Thursday in a key seeding matchup that will help decide who will have home court in the later rounds of the playoffs.
Milwaukee, Boston, and Philadelphia are all tied for the No. 2 seed at 49-30, and the Bucks already won a dramatic contest against the 76ers last Tuesday.
MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as probable with the sore right knee he has been nursing over the last month. The 28-year-old has missed 3 of the last 9 games but only 1 since March 24 while averaging 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 61.6% shooting over that stretch.
Antetokounmpo played only 24 minutes, his 3rd-lowest total of the season, in Milwaukee’s 21-point win over the Bulls on Tuesday as he dealt with foul trouble.
Brook Lopez has quickly returned to form since returning from back surgery last month, scoring 28 points with 7 rebounds on 9-14 shooting Tuesday night. Bobby Portis has settled into his former bench role as well, averaging 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds over his last 3 games.
Potential Plays
Celtics +6 - These two teams are close in health scores, each missing a starter, and it will likely be a close contest until the end.
O 227 points, -110 - The Celtics are thin at the frontline without Robert Williams, while the Bucks are scoring 121.4 points and allowing 118.5 since the All-Star break.
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