Celtics Can Clinch Top Seed in the East with Victory Over Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Boston Celtics in a showdown with the top spot in the Eastern Conference on the line, as the NBA regular season concludes on Wednesday. The current line has Boston favored by 13.5 points with the over/under point total on 207.5.

Entering this game, Milwaukee has an overall record of 42-39 straight up and 36-45 against the spread. On the road, the Bucks are 19-21 SU and 17-23 ATS. Boston on the season is 52-39 SU and 39-40-2 ATS. At home, the Celtics are 29-11 SU and 16-24 ATS.

Boston can clinch the No. 1 seed in the East with a win over Milwaukee. Following a loss last Wednesday against Cleveland and then to Atlanta the following night, Boston trailed Cleveland by 1 ½ games with just three to play and the Cavaliers holding the tiebreaker.

However, Cleveland has lost three straight since beating Boston and the Celtics have won two straight since losing to Atlanta. At the same time, Milwaukee clinched its berth in the playoffs and is only a half-game behind Atlanta for fifth.

The Bucks have won two consecutive games allowing just an average of 80.5 points in the two wins. Four players scored 15 or more points in Milwaukee’s win against Charlotte in its last game. The win assured the Bucks of a winning season for the first time since 2009-2010 and guaranteed a No. 6 seed or higher.

Isaiah Thomas has taken on the scoring load the entire season for the Celtics. The Boston guard has scored 25 or more points in 10 of his past 11 games. Backcourt mate Avery Bradley has overcome health issues and his shooting woes hitting 13 of his past 24 shots.

The two teams have split the two previous meetings this season with one that ended in overtime while the other had a difference of just three points.

Milwaukee point guard Malcolm Brogdon has played just 1 of the team’s past 6 games due to an injured back.

Milwaukee is 5-0 ATS in its past 5 games versus opponents from the Atlantic division.

Boston is 0-6 ATS in its past 6 games played at home.

Prediction: Boston is playing very well at the moment and will prevail in this game and clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but Milwaukee will play tough enough to cover the 13.5-point number.