NBA 2018-19: Predicted Starting Lineups and Match Prediction - Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks
Match Details
Milwaukee Bucks (43-14) vs Boston Celtics (37-21)
22nd February 2019, 6:30 AM IST
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Head to Head (Regular Season)
Matches played: 212 games
Milwaukee Bucks won: 103 games
Boston Celtics won: 109 games
Last game played: Milwaukee Bucks beat the Boston Celtics, 120-107
Match Overview
The Boston Celtics travel to the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee to face off against the Eastern Conference leaders, Milwaukee Bucks. The Boston Celtics have been doing well this season, after a rough start and are currently tied at 4th with a 37-21 record. They have won 7 of their last 10 games and will be looking to keep their 2 game winning streak going.
The Milwaukee Bucks, on the other hand, are cruising this season. Nobody expected them to be such a force in the Eastern Conference and are at the top right now. They have a 43-14 record, having won 8 of their last 10 games and will also look to keep their 2 game winning streak going.
In their last game, the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the Indiana Pacers, 106-97, in a good win for the Bucks while the Boston Celtics faced a resurgent Detroit Pistons, but managed to beat them 118-110.
Injury report
Boston Celtics: Terry Rozier (G), is day to day with an illness, while center Robert Williams is day to day with a back injury, along with center Aron Baynes, who is considered questionable with a foot injury.
Milwaukee Bucks: Guard Donte DiVincenzo is considered day to day with a heel injury along with forward Nikola Mirotic, who is considered to be day to day with a calf injury.
Players to watch out
Boston Celtics: Gordon Hayward
Boston Celtics have had a recent surge in form and the player who has been performing the most and has improved a lot has been Gordon Hayward. He has been underwhelming all season long, averaging just 11.2 points per game, along with 3.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game but has been putting in the hard work of late and it has been really good for the Celtics.
Hayward has scored more than 18 points in 4 of his last 5 games and shooting at just under 59%. He is a player to watch out for against the Bucks and with Irving just returning from an injury, Hayward could again be the go-to scorer for the Celtics.
Last game stats: 18 points, 5-8 FG, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 TOs against the Detroit Pistons.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Bucks have been stellar all season and most of the credit has got to go to the MVP level season that Giannis Antetokounmpo has been having. He has single-handedly been destroying teams left and right.
Giannis has been averaging 27.2 points per game, along with 12.7 rebounds and 6 assists a game, which is elite numbers for a big man. He has also been a great defender, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game as well. He is definitely the man that the Celtics need to shut down to be able to get a win and they will be looking to do just that.
Last game stats: 33 points, 12-22 FG, 11 assists, 19 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block and 2 TOs against the Indiana Pacers.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Boston Celtics: Kyrie Irving (G), Marcus Smart (G), Jayson Tatum (F), Marcus Morris (F), Al Horford (C)
Milwaukee Bucks: Eric Bledsoe (G), Malcom Brogdon (G), Khris Middleton (F), Giannis Antetokounmpo (F), Brook Lopez (C)
Match Prediction: Milwaukee Bucks to beat the Boston Celtics
This game is going to be an amazing spectacle to watch and just as tough to predict as both teams were playing really well coming into the All-Star break.
Even with Kyrie Irving returning to the lineup, it will be very difficult to beat a Bucks side which has been spacing the floor so well and beating almost every other team with ease. They also possess a huge problem called Giannis Antetokounmpo which might be very difficult to handle.