Two of the top sides in the Eastern Conference go head-to-head on Friday evening, with the Boston Celtics looking to end the eight-game winning run that the Milwaukee Bucks have enjoyed recently.
Bucks vs Celtics Preview
Bucks Looking For Ninth Straight Victory
The Milwaukee Bucks have been putting intense pressure on the Philadelphia 76ers at the top of the Eastern Conference over recent weeks, as they have gone on an eight-game winning run. The form that they have shown over these eight games is precisely what many would have expected from them this season, and is one of the many reasons why they are considered a major player to win the NBA outright this season. Philadelphia, to their credit, haven’t budged under the pressure that they have been put under, as they have also won their last three.
Both of the top two in the East have won nine of their last ten games, but the Bucks will have their sights set on the top seed in the East. The most recent Bucks win came against the Celtics, as they outlasted their rivals to win 121-119. Khris Middleton led the home side at the Fiserv Forum, as he scored 27 points and added 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo both scored 17. It was a quieter night for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the Greek finished with 13 points, seven assists and eight rebounds.
Celtics Sliding Down The Standings
It has been a troublesome couple of weeks for the Celtics, and there will be a feeling that they will need to get back on track sooner rather than later. Boston have lost six of their last ten, and have also been beaten on their last two appearances. That run of form has seen them drop to eighth place in the East, and they are narrowly hanging on to their spot in the playoffs. They will need to get back into good form, as the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls are both closing the gap on them for that eighth spot.
The Celtics were unlucky in the defeat against Milwaukee on Wednesday evening, as they came storming back in the final quarter to make a game of it. They outscored the Bucks 33-21 in the final period, but they still fell just two points shy of the score set by the Bucks. Jaylen Brown ended with a double-double in the defeat, as he scored ten rebounds and 24 points. Meanwhile, Kemba Walker had 23 points, and there were 18 points from Jayson Tatum. Daniel Theis, Marcus Smart and Jeff Teague also finished the night with at least ten points.
Bucks vs Celtics Pick
The Bucks have been dominant in the NBA over their last eight games, but all winning runs must come to an end at some stage. There were good signs despite the defeat by the Celtics last time out, and if they can match their levels from the fourth quarter for a whole game, then they will end their recent run of bad form. However, we still expect the Bucks to be too strong when the sides meet on Friday.
Pick: Milwaukee Bucks
