Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/11/2024

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Thursday, January 11, 2024

Venue:  Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI 

Where to Watch:  TNT, MAX

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Celtics +4.5, Bucks -4.5; Over/Under:  243 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Celtics +4.5, Bucks -4.5; Over/Under:  243 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Celtics +4.5, Bucks -4.5; Over/Under:  242.5 points

Boston Celtics:  28-8 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

Milwaukee Bucks:  25-12 (1st place, Central Division)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Doc’s Sports is on a HOT STREAK in the NBA on a 15-3 NBA RUN for +$11,700 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Boston Celtics:  8-2 last 10

Milwaukee Bucks:  5-5 last 10

The Celtics are entering this game with a 28-8 record overall and they are 11-8 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Indiana Pacers in their last game, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves still to be played on Wednesday night. In their game against the Pacers, Jaylen Brown led the team in points in that game with 40 while Jrue Holiday was next on the team with 21 points. Kristaps Porziņģis led the team in assists in that game with 7 while Payton Pritchard led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 52.2% from the field, 48.6% from 3-point range, and 69% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 121.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 110.7 PPG against them. The Celtics have an ATS record of 18-16-2 this season and their O/U record is 20-16.

The Bucks are entering this game with a 25-12 record overall and they are 16-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak with losses coming against the Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz in their last game. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team in points in that game with 25 while Khris Middleton was next on the team with 23 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team in assists in that game with 11 while Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 44.7% from the field, 47.2% from 3-point range, and 78.9% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 124.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 119.9 PPG against them. The Bucks have an ATS record of 15-21-1 this season and their O/U record is 23-14.

The current betting odds have the Bucks listed as a 4.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Bucks have looked good in their games this season with their 25-12 record overall which has them right at the top of the East right now with the Celtics. They have looked a lot better in their home games too with their 16-4 home record. Meanwhile, the Celtics have also looked good in their games this season with their 28-8 record overall but they haven't looked as good in their road games with their 11-8 road record. They are also in a terrible situation here since they have to travel to Milwaukee for this game after being at home to the Timberwolves the night before. The Timberwolves are the best team in the West right now too so the Celtics are going to use a lot of energy trying to beat them with the way the T-Wolves have been playing lately. The Bucks will also be looking to cut down on the Celtics lead over them in the standings so they are going to bring their best effort here to win this game on their home court. The best way to place a bet here is on the Bucks to cover the spread in this game. 

Celtics Bucks Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Thursday, January 11, 2024 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Bucks 131 Celtics 119.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert basketball picks today.  And if you enjoyed this Boston Celtics Milwaukee Bucks prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NBA predictions and previews.

Boston Celtics: 12-6 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points. 25-18 ATS after failing to cover the spread in 2 or more consecutive games. 24-9 OVER when playing on back-to-back days. 6-1 OVER after a combined score of 245 points or more 2 straight games. 

Milwaukee Bucks: 7-12 ATS as a home favorite. 7-14 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread. 23-14 OVER in all games. 22-13 OVER as a favorite. 13-6 OVER in home games. 13-5 OVER after playing a home game.

Boston Celtics:  J. Holiday (PG) Ques Wed - Elbow. J. Tatum (SF) Prob Wed - Ankle. S. Hauser (SF) Prob Wed - Shoulder. A. Horford (C) Ques Wed - Illness. K. Porzingis (PF) Ques Wed - Knee.

Milwaukee Bucks:  D. Lillard (PG) Ques Thurs - Personal. C. Payne (PG) Ques Thurs - Concussion. J. Crowder (SF) Mid Jan - Groin.

“He stepped up and didn't force anything. He let the game come to him. He scored in many different ways.” - Joe Mazzulla on Jaylen Brown after his team’s loss against the Pacers in their game on Monday. 

“We flipped it a little bit as far as our energy and effort, and we made it a ballgame, but you in the NBA you just can’t dig yourself in a hole like that. And then you’ve got to play extremely hard and exert a lot of energy just to try to get back into the game.” - Adrian Griffin after his team’s loss against the Jazz in their game on Monday. 

PG Jrue Holiday

SG Derrick White

SF Jaylen Brown

PF Jayson Tatum

C Kristaps Porzingis

PG Damian Lillard

SG Malik Beasley

SF Khris Middleton

PF Giannis Antetokounmpo

C Brook Lopez

PPG: J. Tatum (27.5)

APG: D. White (5.2)

Reb/G: J. Tatum (8.7)

PPG: G. Antetokounmpo (31.4)

APG: D. Lillard (6.9)

Reb/G: G. Antetokounmpo (11.5)

Coaches:

Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla (2nd season)

Milwaukee Bucks: Adrian Griffin (1st season)