Update: Jaylen Brown (Illness) and Neemias Queta (rest) ruled out Monday
The Bucks are hosting the Celtics on Monday. Boston is a 4.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the game total set at 217.5 points.
Let’s dive into my preview and pick for the game.
Celtics vs. Bucks Preview
As the Celtics await the return of Jayson Tatum — which some believe could be as soon as this Friday against the Mavericks — Boston continues to impress in the superstar’s absence. The Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference at 40–20 and rank second in net rating, trailing only the defending champion Thunder. Before rolling to a double-digit win over the 76ers on Sunday, they obliterated Brooklyn in one of the greatest offensive performances of all time.
The Celtics shot 66% from the field and finished with the second-best offensive rating for a game in NBA history in a 148–111 rout.
Boston is absolutely rolling right now, and if Tatum can return to his superstar form, it will become the clear favorite to win the East. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are all having career seasons, and role players like Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman have all taken massive strides as well. In Sunday’s win over Philadelphia, Queta erupted for 27 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks.
Playing two nights in a row is never easy, but the Celtics are 6–4 without rest this season. There’s a chance Brown sits on Monday, but the team is 5–1 without him — an encouraging sign against the struggling Bucks, who rank 23rd in net rating.
However, that same Milwaukee team handed the Celtics their worst loss of the season on Feb. 1, trouncing them 107–79 without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While this felt like a random, bad night for Boston, the Bucks should ride the momentum and confidence into Monday’s rematch. Plus, Antetokounmpo is expected to return after missing Milwaukee’s last 15 games.
The former MVP is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, and he leads the Bucks in plus/minus this season. Milwaukee is coming off back-to-back losses of 20 points or more, including a loss to the spiraling Bulls on Sunday, so it will gladly welcome back Antetokounmpo. Still, the Bucks are just 15–15 with the superstar active, and he’ll likely be limited in his return. Antetokounmpo leading the Bucks to victory over the surging Celtics in his first game back feels like a tall order.
Celtics vs. Bucks Pick, Best Bet
The Celtics should avenge last month’s ignominious loss to the Bucks on Monday night, even with Antetokounmpo back in the lineup.
Boston should be favored by more than 4.5 points and should comfortably cover this modest line. The Celtics are 35–25 against the spread and 6–3 ATS on the second night of back-to-backs.
