The Boston Celtics host the Milwaukee Bucks in the third contest between these teams.
The pregame narrative: Even though Boston is in the first half of a back-to-back, I like the Celtics to defeat the Bucks at home. To round out the parlay, I am including prop picks on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the returning Khris Middleton.
Check out my Bucks vs. Celtics same-game parlay predictions for Dec. 6.
Bucks vs. Celtics predictions
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Parlay: Celtics moneyline + Antetokounmpo over 27.5 points + Middleton over 2.5 assists (+300)
Celtics moneyline (-295): The Celtics defeated the Bucks twice already this season and I don’t expect tonight’s game to be any different.
The reigning champions are among the best-scoring teams in the league, which gives them a favourable matchup against a team who have struggled to defend elite shooting.
Jayson Tatum missed Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons but Boston still put up 130 points in a winning effort. He’s listed as available tonight, which is great news for the Celtics.
Joe Mazzulla’s lineup is loaded with sharpshooters like Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard who are capable of filling the void.
Although the Bucks are seemingly back in business, their poor away record cannot be ignored.
Milwaukee is just 3-6 on the road this season and has lost its last five games in Boston.
A lot of factors are pointing toward a Celtics victory in this one.
SGP legs
Antetokounmpo over 27.5 points (-182): Although I like the Celtics to win, I expect Giannis to keep rolling here.
The Greek Freak is averaging a league-best 32.6 points per game and has cleared this line in his last six games (41, 37, 32, 42, 28 and 31).
Boston’s defence is solid but Giannis has cooked it this season:
- On Oct. 28, the star big man scored 30 points despite shooting 33 percent from the free-throw line (2-for-6).
- On Nov. 11, he dropped 43 points while shooting 62.1 percent from the field.
With Boston playing the first of a back-to-back, one of Kristap Porzingis or Al Horford could miss this game. This leaves more space for Giannis to wreak havoc in the paint.
Middleton over 2.5 assists (-130): Middleton makes his season debut tonight and will be on a minutes restriction.
However, if the three-time All-Star receives at least 20 minutes on the floor I believe this line is a notch too low.
In the four games against Boston last season, Middleton recorded at least six assists with Antetokounmpo and Lilliard on the court.
He averaged 5.3 assists and 27 minutes a night across 55 games last season.
Having not played in over seven months, I believe there’s value in his assists prop.
Picks made at 12:33 p.m. on 12/06/24.
