NBA Playoffs: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Game 7 Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Boston Celtics forced Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. The Cs are coming back home and have a unique chance to eliminate the NBA champions and set the East Conference finals against the Miami Heat. Many believed that the Bucks were going to close the series at Fiserv, but Jayson Tatum didn’t want to agree to that. One of the best players in the league destroyed the champions, putting another memorable performance. Game 7 takes place on Sunday afternoon at the TD Garden, the home of the Boston Celtics and one of the most memorable arenas in the NBA.

Preview

Milwaukee Bucks (+180) missed an opportunity to beat the Cs in Wisconsin and avoid the complications. They now head to Boston, not only to play against the Celtics but with almost 20,000 roaring spectators. For some reason, the hosts couldn’t impose their tempo on the court.

The Bucks were constantly behind, and each time they would make a push, the Celtics rebuffed it without any problems. One rule did prove to be right almost every time, and that is when Giannis plays alone, the Bucks are usually losing.

The two-time MVP had 44 points, 20 boards, and six assists. But there was no one besides him to jump in. Holiday had a mediocre performance with 17 buckets, and Pat Connaughton added 14. Not a single other player from the Bucks reached ten or more points.

Boston Celtics (-220) had Jayson Tatum neutralize Giannis’ productivity. He scored 46 points and had nine rebounds, hitting seven threes. But the difference was that the Celtics had two more players to pick up and continue in the moments when Tatum had to rest.

Marcus Smart had 21 points with seven assists and without a single turnover, while Jaylen Brown scored 22 points. These two guys would combine for nine threes in 16 attempts, thus killing the Bucks’ morale in the moments when the hosts tried to come back.

While Milwaukee made only seven threes, the Celtics had 17 of them, plus with a much higher shooting percentage, the Cs 39.5%, Bucks 24.1%. The Celtics didn’t allow the hosts to have many second-chance points, and Milwaukee had just seven offensive rebounds.

Head to Head Games

The series started with the Bucks winning in Boston, 101-89. Game 2 saw the Cs winning, 109-86, before losing in Milwaukee, 103-101. That Game 3 had a controversial ending that saw the officials making some pretty unexpected calls. Boston responded in Game 4, 116-108, and after that, the Bucks took the lead once again, beating the rivals in Game 5, 110-107.

However, the Cs made another stop in Wisconsin, trashing the hosts in Game 6 108-95.

Prediction

The tables have turned, and the Bucks are in a very complicated position now. The swing, the crowd, morale, everything is on Boston’s side. To be honest, we can’t see the champions getting away from this one. Especially because they don’t have Khris Middleton, the guy whose composure in these moments was always the x-factor that pushed the Bucks ahead. Giannis is the best player, but Middleton is the most constant, and his presence on the court would make things easier for everyone on his team. Boston is on the rise, and they won’t miss a chance to reach the finals.

Pick: Boston wins