Jacob Sisneros
2 min read • February 14, 2023
Posted in
This matchup between the two juggernauts at the top of the Eastern Conference may lose its playoff feel with the Celtics down three huge starters.
The Bucks, meanwhile, enter the contest on a 10-game win streak despite losing Bobby Portis to an MCL sprain in late January.
Last year’s Eastern Conference champions have not missed a beat in the two latest games without Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown. They beat the Hornets 127-116 last Friday and smothered the Grizzlies 119-109 on Sunday behind 23 points from Derrick White.
However, they will likely be down Jayson Tatum as well for this Tuesday matchup on TNT. Tatum is listed as doubtful with a non-COVID illness in Boston’s second-to-last game before the All-Star break.
With Tatum out, the Celtics would be down their top two scorers (Tatum and Brown) plus their top assist man in Smart.
Robert Williams III and Grant Williams are also listed as questionable for the contest with left ankle soreness and right elbow swelling, respectively. Both are likely to suit up for the matchup, according to the Pro Basketball Docs.
Free agent signee Malcolm Brogdon is listed as probable with right Achilles tendon soreness that he has been playing through for the better part of the season.
With so many offensive tools down, Boston will likely have to rely on its sixth-ranked defense to slow down Milwaukee.
The fearsome deer enter the game on a 10-game win streak, including wins over the Nuggets, Heat and Clippers. That double-digit win streak has coincided with the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed 5 games in mid-January with a left knee sprain.
The lanky Greek international has been on a scoring tear during that stretch, averaging 37.3 points and 13.4 boards per contest.
Surprisingly, 9 of those 10 recent wins have come without dynamic forward Bobby Portis, who is averaging a double-double for the first time in his career. Portis will likely return from his right knee MCL sprain shortly after the All-Star break.
Recent addition Jae Crowder is out because of “return to competition conditioning,” but the rest of the Bucks roster is likely to suit up for this Eastern Conference clash.
Antetokounmpo is listed as probable with right knee soreness and Pat Connaughton is probable with left calf soreness.
Milwaukee sits 1.5 games behind Boston for the No. 1 seed with 26 games left to play.
Milwaukee is favored by 10 points at home, where they have a record of 23-5 this season, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Bucks are 31-22-3 against the spread this season, according to teamrankings.com.
The Celtics and Bucks are the two favorites to win the NBA Finals this season, at +270 and +410 respectively. Antetokounmpo is +800 to win MVP while Tatum is at +1800.
As of last week, our staff is 54% on player props this season.
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Written by Jacob Sisneros
