Bucks vs Celtics Odds, Spread & Predictions for NBA Christmas Day
- The Milwaukee Bucks are 4.5-point road underdogs when they take on the Celtics on Christmas Day
- This is a matchup of the two best records in the NBA
- Read below for the Bucks vs Celtics odds and predictions
It’s a matchup the Christmas Day slate was built for.
The two top teams in the East, holders of the two best records in the NBA, and the top-2 favorites in the 2023 NBA Championship odds clash when the Milwaukee Bucks (22-10, 8-7 away) visit the Boston Celtics (23-10, 12-5 home).
It’s the first meeting between these two teams since Boston sent the Bucks packing in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinal, with the C’s eventually making a run to the NBA Finals.
This one gets underway Sunday (December 25) at 5pm ET from TD Garden. You can watch the game live on ABC or ESPN.
Bucks vs Celtics Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | +4.5 (-110) | +155 | Ov 225.5 (-110) |
| Boston Celtics | -4.5 (-110) | -180 | Un 225.5 (-110) |
Odds as of Dec 24 at DraftKings. Claim the DraftKings promo code to bet on the Bucks vs Celtics game.
The NBA odds have the visiting Bucks as 4.5-point road ‘dogs, in a game that features a total of 225.5.
Boston is tied for the third-most home wins in the East with 12, while Milwaukee is 8-7 on the road. They are one of just three teams in the East’s top 10 seeds to hold a winning road record.
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Milwaukee Betting Outlook
The Bucks got beat 118-100 by the sizzling Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, sending them to consecutive losses for just the second time all season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 26 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, but he was also held scoreless in the fourth quarter, and committed seven turnovers in the loss.
Giannis led all scorers tonight.
26 PTS | 13 REB | 7 AST | 2 STL pic.twitter.com/DVyr6aBRaK
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 24, 2022
Brook Lopez was the only other Buck to crack 20+ points, finishing with 23, to go along with five rebounds. Jrue Holiday had 18 points and five dimes.
The Bucks were abysmal from distance, hitting just 9-for-37 from three-point range, a 24.3% clip. During the year, they rank 17th, shooting it at 35%. They’re also 17th in scoring, putting up 112.5 points per game.
Their defense has been stout all season, tied for fourth with Miami, allowing just 109.2 points per game. The Bucks hold teams to 45.1% shooting, which is the 2nd-best mark in the NBA.
Boston Betting Outlook
After suffering through their worst stretch of the season, losing three straight and five of six, the Celtics got back to the business of winning by thumping the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-109 Friday night.
Jaylen Brown had a game-high 36 points, adding seven rebounds and three assists. Jayson Tatum, tied with Giannis at the top of the 2023 NBA MVP odds, added 30 points, eight rebounds and five dimes. The win vaulted Boston back into top spot in the East.
.@stephenasmith has the Celtics winning the East 🏆
"I'm looking at Tatum having an MVP-caliber year. I'm looking at Jaylen Brown being that dude." pic.twitter.com/s1gyJ2ujfU
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 23, 2022
Boston struggled from three-point range in this one, hitting only 13-for-46 (28.6%). This is a club that usually shoots it at a 37.6% clip, sixth-best in the NBA.
The C’s are currently tied with Sacramento as the highest scoring team in the league, pumping out 118.1 points per contest.
Big man Robert Williams III, who just returned to the lineup on Dec 16 from a knee injury, sat out the win over the T-Wolves with an illness. He’s questionable for Sunday.
Bucks vs Celtics Prediction
One big missing piece to this matchup is the status of Bucks all-star forward Khris Middleton who is questionable with right knee soreness.
Milwaukee won this matchup last year, as part of a three-game winning streak over the Celtics before losing in six games in Round 2.
The Bucks enter this one as a tough bet on the road, running a 1-5-1 mark against the spread in their last seven away games. Boston, however, is just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven.
The best bet in this head-to-head has been the C’s, who are 13-3-1 ATS against the Bucks in the last 17 games, while the Bucks are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight in Boston.
These two slumping teams should raise their level of play during this showcase matchup. Williams III, should he play, gives the Celtics another element to their defense, which is massive in a team philosophy to stop Giannis.
Still, this one has the makings of a down-to-the-wire finish.
Pick:
- Bucks +4.5 (-110); 1 unit to win 0.91 units
- NBA Betting Record: 18-14 ATS, 1-1 ML, 2-3 o/u, 0-2 parlays; -1.19 units
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Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
