Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

May 9, 2022 4:05 pm

Bucks slight Game 4 home favorites vs. Celtics

Giannis Antetokounmpo will look to lead Milwaukee to a 3-1 series advantage when the Bucks host the Boston Celtics on Monday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Bucks have held steady as 1.5-points favorites ahead of Game 4 at BetMGM, where they have been backed by 55 percent of the spread bets but only 44 percent of the handle. The 1.0-point line at DraftKings has seen similar action, with Milwaukee drawing 66 percent of the bets while Boston has been backed by 53 percent of the handle.

The two-time MVP led Milwaukee to a 103-101 win in Game 3 on Saturday, pouring in 42 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. It was the sixth time he has scored at least 40 points in a playoff game.

“I just try to do whatever is in front of me. Play to my strengths as much as possible, and I know what my strengths are,” Antetokounmpo said. “As long as I play within my strengths, I’m going to be in a good place and I just try to take it a possession at a time.”

Jrue Holiday contributed 25 points and seven rebounds, and Brook Lopez went for 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Although Khris Middleton is still out with an MCL sprain, George Hill has returned to the Bucks’ rotation after dealing with an abdomen injury. Hill was quiet in his postseason debut in Game 3, as he was held scoreless in 11 minutes off the bench.

With Hill back in action, Milwaukee is hoping for more production from a bench that has averaged 22.0 points per game in this series.

Monday’s game on the defending NBA champions’ home floor is now essentially a must-win for the Celtics, who will host Game 5 on Wednesday night.

While no loss is easy to swallow, especially in the playoffs, Boston mounted a late-game surge that could give it some momentum heading into Game 4.

After trailing by 13 with 9:48 left to play in the fourth quarter, the Celtics stormed all the way back and eventually went ahead 100-99 after a pair of free throws from Jaylen Brown.

Following buckets from Antetokounmpo and Holiday that put the Bucks up by three, Boston’s Marcus Smart sank the first of two free throws before intentionally missing the second. Robert Williams and Al Horford each missed putback layups.

“Didn’t even have to come down to that last play honestly. We were sloppy in the third and execution-wise at times,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. “Battled back well in the fourth, but can play a whole lot better.”

The Celtics were outscored 34-17 in the third quarter.

Brown paced Boston with 27 points and 12 rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting. Al Horford supplied 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Derrick White posted 14 points off the bench.

Jayson Tatum struggled heavily on the afternoon and was held to just 10 points on a lackluster 4-of-19 shooting which included an 0-for-6 effort from 3-point range.

Smart is back with the Celtics after missing Game 2 with a thigh contusion, but Sam Hauser will be out on Monday with a right shoulder issue.

With Saturday’s loss, Boston is still searching for its first win in Milwaukee this season after it dropped both regular-season contests on the Bucks’ home floor.

The Over/Under at BetMGM opened at a low total of 209.5 points but has moved to 211.5 with the Over garnering 86 percent of the handle. The market is at 212.5 points at DraftKings, where the split action has seen the Under backed by 58 percent of the bets while the Over has drawn 58 percent of the handle.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

Mar 21, 2023 1:42 am

NBA roundup: Knicks’ Julius Randle scores 57, Wolves still prevail

Taurean Prince outdueled Julius Randle in a battle of performances that flirted with history Monday night, hitting all eight of his 3-point shots and scoring the insurance basket with 10.4…

Mar 21, 2023 12:48 am

Ochai Agbaji’s career night powers Jazz past Kings

Rookie Ochai Agbaji scored a career-high 27 points to lead the short-handed Utah Jazz to a 128-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night in Salt Lake City. Agbaji,…

Mar 20, 2023 11:52 pm

Grizzlies storm back to beat Mavs in game lacking star power

The Memphis Grizzlies trailed by 13 points at the end of three quarters but outscored Dallas 29-12 in the fourth to earn a hard-fought 112-108 home win over the Mavericks…

More Basketball News

Mar 21, 2023 1:42 am

NBA roundup: Knicks’ Julius Randle scores 57, Wolves still prevail

Taurean Prince outdueled Julius Randle in a battle of performances that flirted with history Monday night, hitting all eight of his 3-point shots and scoring the insurance basket with 10.4…

Mar 21, 2023 12:48 am

Ochai Agbaji’s career night powers Jazz past Kings

Mar 20, 2023 11:52 pm

Grizzlies storm back to beat Mavs in game lacking star power

Mar 20, 2023 11:39 pm

Warriors handle Rockets, end 11-game road skid

Mar 20, 2023 11:33 pm

Wolves win as Taurean Prince, Julius Randle wage battle for the ages

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds