Bucks vs. Celtics NBA Playoffs Game 1 Prediction, Odds & Picks

Check out our Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics betting picks and odds for the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs Second Round Game 1 that will take place in ID Garden in Boston, MA, May 1, 2022.

Both the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks had dominant performances in the first round of the NBA Playoffs series. The Celtics, who finished second in the Eastern Conference, swept the Brooklyn Nets in a fashion that put them at No. 3 among the top favorites to win the NBA Championship this season. Boston finished the regular season as the best defensive team, leading the league in points allowed per game and allowed shooting percentage both from the field and the three point line. The Celtics’ defense was go good that not even Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving found a solution against them. On the other end of the floor, Jayson Tatum performed well in all four games leading the Celtics in scoring and hitting the game-winner in Game 1 that set the tone for the series. No matter how good the Celtics were in the opening round, they will have to be even better in order to compete against the defending champion – Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo was brilliant in the opening round leading the Bucks to a 4-1 series win over the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks dominated the last three games especially in Game 3 winning by 30 points differential on the road. Khris Middleton suffered an injury in the opening game of the playoffs and is listed as out for this game with no certain time table on his return.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Game Info

Matchup: Eastern Conference Second Round Game 1 – No.3 Bucks vs. No.2 Celtics

Tipoff time: Sunday, May 1, 2022, 1 p.m. ET

TV: ABC

Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA

How to watch: There are several options how to watch Game 1 of the Bucks vs. Celtics series

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Game 1 Odds Analysis

According to the odds, the Boston Celtics are a 5-point favorite going into this game which is higher than in any game against the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round. This is the first time in these NBA Playoffs the Bucks to enter a game as underdogs.

• The Celtics are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win
• The Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game
• The Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game
• The Bucks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games
• The Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record
• The Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game

The Moneyline for the Celtics win is at -200 while the Bucks are at +170.

The over/under margin is set as 218.

• Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 games playing on 3 or more days rest
• Over is 6-1 in Celtics last 7 home games against a team with a road winning % of greater than .600
• Over is 11-4 in Celtics last 15 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game
• Over is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 playoff games as an underdog
• Over is 6-2 in Bucks last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game
• Over is 19-9-1 in Bucks last 29 against a team with a winning straight up record

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Game 1 Predictions

Milwaukee Bucks +5

The Boston Celtics are entering this game as a 5-point favorites after they demolished the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. As mentioned, this is the first game in these Playoffs the Bucks to be underdogs and the 5-point margin is pretty high. The Bucks were so dominant in the series against the Bulls that there is no way they will lose by more than five points to the Celtics. As a matter of fact, Milwaukee is the defending champion and they will prove that they are contenders to repeat that in the Game 1 against the Celtics. Not that they will cover the spread but the Bucks will probably win this one. Yes, Boston is a good team but after four wins over the Nets the time has come for the first loss in this postseason.

Besides the Bucks vs. Celtics  prediction, you can also check out our daily parlay picks.

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Over 218 points

The total point margin for Game 1 is set at 218 points which is lower that any Celtics game against the Nets. Milwaukee usually scored a lot against the Bulls in all but the opening game of the series and this one may start slow as well. Anyway, the 218 is pretty low for today’s basketball and this game will definitely go over it with both teams scoring over 110 points.

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Player Prop Pick

Grayson Allen under 10.5

Greyson Allen is one of only few players in the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster who was not part of the last season’s championship team. He is the starting small forward for the team mainly because of his three point shooting. He was a 40.9% from deep in the regular season and he is scoring 11.1 points per game. Allen will play his minutes which is 24 per game in the playoffs, three less than the regular season. The Celtics are the best defensive team in the league and even though Allen will not be a major target, he will score less than usual. Allen does not attack the rim often so he will have 5-6 three points attempts in this game and unless he goes way over 50% this seems like a good bet.

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