2019 NBA Preview, Odds, And Prediction: Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks remain as the best team in the NBA with 36 wins against just six losses - a club record for most victories recorded after 42 games. Losing has become a rarity for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks that they will always remember the tormentors who handed each of their six defeats so far this year. One of them are their East rivals Boston Celtics who held them off, 116-105, just four games into the new season.

Boston continues to be in pursuit of Milwaukee in the conference standings, sitting at the third spot with a 27-12 W/L tally, just half a game behind the Miami Heat.

Celtics:

The Celtics hit the road immediately after they were held in check by the Detroit Pistons last night at home, 116-103, marking their fourth loss in six games.

Jayson Tatum's impact was clearly missed on Wednesday as he sat out due to knee soreness. Brad Stevens, though, said that he feels the star forward will be ready to go for the match against the Bucks.

Bucks:

Milwaukee continues to be as good as advertised. Winners of four straight games and nine of the last 10, the league's No. 1 squad seems to be in no business to let go of the gas pedal.

The team is right on pace to become just the third team in NBA history to reach 70 wins in the regular season, but coach Mike Budenholzer would rather not put a weight on it, saying that his team has a bigger prize on sight.

Antetokounmpo lorded it over the Knicks in their last game, scoring 37 points and grabbing nine rebounds in just 21 minutes of play.

Odds and Trends:

The Bucks are -8.5 favorites in this game. The total line is even at 223.5.

The Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog and 15-3 in their last 18 games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes of the previous day.

The Bucks are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and 4-in their last 5 games following an ATS win.

Under is 5-1 in Celtics' last 6 games following a double-digit loss at home and 6-2 in Bucks' last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Over is 8-3 in Celtics' last 11 Thursday games and 4-1 in Bucks' last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

Prediction:

Straight-up: Bucks

ATS: Celtics

Total: Under