Game 5 Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The second-seeded team is tied 2-2.The Number 3 seed Milwaukee Bucks visit the Boston Celtics for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinals playoff series. The game will begin at 7 p.m. ET (TNT). We examine the Bucks vs. Celtics Game 5 odds and lines and provide our expert NBA selections, predictions, and bets below.

Boston snatched Game 4 on Monday, outscoring Milwaukee 43-28 in the fourth quarter to win 116-108. Celtics C Al Horford had a career game with 30 points on 11-for-14 shooting (including 5-for-7 from 3-point range) and was a significant cause for Boston’s comeback victory in the fourth quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ two-time MVP, has been overpowering, setting series highs in points (32.0), rebounds (14.0), and assists (8.0) per game.

However, the absence of SF Khris Middleton has hampered Milwaukee’s late-game performance, while PG Jrue Holiday has struggled to take up the slack. The Holiday is averaging just 21.3 points per game on 33.7 percent shooting.

The Celtics are 8-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in their previous ten encounters while 5-5 Over/Under (O/U).

Odds and lines for the Bucks vs. the Celtics

OKBET Sportsbook provides the odds; for a comprehensive list, go here. At 11:37 a.m. ET, the lines were last updated.

Bucks +180 (bet 100 to win 180) vs. Celtics -230 (bet 230 to win 100)
Bucks +5.5 (-110) | Celtics +5.5 (-110) (-5.5) (-110)
Over/Under: 213.5 (-110 | -110)

Key injuries for the Bucks and Celtics

Bucks

SG George Hill (abdominal) is likely
Celtics lose SF Khris Middleton (knee)

Celtics

PF Robert Williams III (knee) doubtful

Game 5 Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks for Picks and projections

Prediction

Bucks 103, Celtics 112

The Money line

PASS because home favorites on the ML have been relatively consistent this playoffs, but the Celtics (-230) are beyond my pricing range.

I can’t see the Bucks winning Game 5 because Giannis isn’t playing well, and Holiday is shooting the Bucks out of games.

Boston’s defense looks to be wearing out Milwaukee’s offense, and the Bucks are one Khris Middleton away from taking a 3-1 series lead.

Against the spread

LEAN CELTICS -5.5 (-110) against the spread because we may acquire a better number if we wait until closer to tip-off.

The fans will be rooting for the Bucks since Game 4 was closer than the final score implies, and the defending champs will expect to score five or more points. Also, if Horford hadn’t had a career night, Boston would have lost Game 4, which is unlikely to happen again.

However, since role players rise at home and home teams tend to benefit from the whistle, home teams have been lucrative in recent playoffs. In this series, the Celtics surpass the Bucks in practical field goal shooting and free-throw attempt rate.

We’ve seen so many lopsided games in the playoffs because the NBA game has gotten a little randomized as the amount of 3-point attempts has increased inexorably. It’s a large amount, but if either side gets hot from beyond the arc, Game 5 could turn into a disaster.

With most of the activity on the Bucks, it’s a LEAN to the CELTICS -5.5 (-110) with the hopes of obtaining a better price later.

Over/Under

Over/Under 213.5 (-110), since all four referees assigned to Game 5 have refereed more to the Over, and the Bucks-Celtics series is playing at a quicker tempo than the postseason norm.

Both clubs are outstanding defensively and have a below-average free-throw attempt rate this playoff.

Game 5 odds, selections, and predictions for Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics