The Boston Celtics got off, as far as NBA games odds-makers were concerned, on the wrong foot; they were the Gordon Hayward (i.e., one-legged man) in the proverbial arse-kicking contest. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have, however, stepped up to the plate, and they will be looking to pull the Celtics over the .500 hump when the face the Milwaukee Bucks and their very own Greek demigod, one Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Greek Freak gets it DONE!!#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/BRsiXE2ZuP
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 26, 2017
- Date: Thursday, 26th October
- Time: 8:10 PM
- Venue: Bradley Center
- Sportsbook Odds for Fans Betting on NBA Games:
Celtics +4 (-110) 206½ (-110) +150
Bucks -4 (-110) 206½ (-110) -170
Jay & Jay Security
The Celtics have won and covered in their last two games thanks to the duo of second-year and rookie small forwards Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum who, on Tuesday, became, against the Knicks, the first Celtics tandem to score 20 or more points in the same game at age 21 or younger in Boston’s 110-89 win. “They’re here and they’re making their mark right now,” center Al Horford said. “I was very proud of them. A lot of people look at the offensive stuff but, defensively, their activity being in the right positions every time, scrambling on defense – Tatum did that time and time again and so did Jaylen.” The defense, by the way, will have to step it up to stop Antetokounmpo, but more on him later. The Celtics are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a win, 5-0 ATS in their last five road games, 5-2 ATS in their last seven overall, and 5-1 ATS in their last six trips to Milwaukee, but NBA games odds-makers may be wary of the fact that Boston could be without the injured Marcus Morris and Marcus Smart. The Bucks are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five home games, 9-4 ATS in their last 13 against Atlantic teams, and 4-1 ATS in their last five on two days’ rest.
The Ante-room of greatness
The Bucks are making a play for East dominance and have thus far succeeded with a 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS record, and their one straight-up loss may be given a pass because it was to the Cavs. Small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo came out swinging this season, and is averaging 36.8 points per game and shooting 65.9% in four regular season games, including 32 points on Monday against Charlotte in Milwaukee’s 103-94 win, and, more to the point, 37 points on 13-of-22 shooting, 13 boards, three assists, and three steals in the season opener against Boston. The young Athenian has already surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in one obscure category; he scored a Bucks-record 147 points in four games, one better than the former Lew Alcindor in 1969. Those 32 points on Monday were actually a season low for Antetokounmpo and that may be the reason that the total went under in a Bucks game for the first time this season. Milwaukee tends, moreover, to go under as a favorite of NBA games odds-makers (six of the last eight), while Boston tends to do so on the road (eight of the last 10).