Bucks vs Celtics Prediction, Odds & Best Bets | NBA Picks Today (3/20): Take the Points in Beantown

Today’s Bucks vs Celtics prediction and NBA best bets are brought to you by Bovada. Bovada is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the NBA to the UFC and everything in between.

Basketball enthusiasts will be treated to two NBA on ESPN matchups on Wednesday, beginning with a massive showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks (44-24) and Boston Celtics (54-14) at 7:30 p.m. ET.

all about the aesthetics 🤌 pic.twitter.com/xUQOKbVDBc

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 20, 2024

The Bucks are looking for more momentum after Bobby Portis’ 31 points off the bench helped them to a 140-129 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Celtics opened the week with a 119-94 victory against the Detroit Pistons, extending their winning streak to six games in a row.

Don’t be surprised if one of these times represents the East at the 2023-24 NBA Finals. After all, Boston is currently Bovada’s -130 favorite to win this year’s Eastern Conference Finals while Milwaukee sits second at +325 odds.

Tonight’s potential ECF preview is also filled with betting opportunities, so let’s look at some of them by getting into my Bucks vs. Celtics NBA prediction and best bets.

Bucks vs Celtics NBA Betting Tonight (3/20)

Bucks vs Celtics Matchup Information

• Matchup: Milwaukee Bucks (44-24, 17-17 Away) vs. Boston Celtics (54-14, 31-3 Home)
• Venue & Location: TD Garden (Boston, MA)
• Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2024
• Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Bucks vs. Celtics: ESPN

Celtics vs Bucks Odds & Spread

Celtics vs. Bucks odds are courtesy of Bovada as of Wednesday, March 20 at 8:39 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Bucks vs Celtics Spread

• Milwaukee Bucks +8.5 (-115)
• Boston Celtics -8.5 (-105)

Celtics vs Bucks Over/Under

• Over 225.5 Points (-110)
• Under 225.5 Points (-110)

Bucks vs Celtics Moneyline

• Milwaukee Bucks (+290)
• Boston Celtics (-380)

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NBA Best Bets and Picks Tonight

Looking to get in on even more NBA picks today? Check out our NBA Picks page for consensus picks for every 2023-24 season game.

You can also check out:

• NBA betting odds
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• 2023-24 NBA Finals Prediction & Dark Horse Pick
• 2024 NBA MVP Odds & Picks

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Bucks vs Celtics NBA Betting Trends

• Milwaukee is 9-3 straight up in its last 12 games.
• Boston is 6-0 straight up in its last six games.
• Milwaukee is 5-3 ATS in its last eight road games.
• Boston is 6-0 ATS in its last six home games.
• The total hit the Under in each of Milwaukee’s last eight road games as the underdog.
• The total hit the Under in 10 of Boston’s last 15 home games.

Bucks vs Celtics Prediction & NBA Picks Today (3/20): Potential ECF Preview in Beantown

The Bucks and Celtics are scheduled to collide for the third time this season after splitting the first two meetings. The Celtics picked up a 119-116 win in the first meeting at TD Garden on Nov. 22 before the Bucks got revenge with a 135 -102 blowout victory at home on Jan. 11.

It isn’t surprising to see these juggernauts trading wins given how they’re two of the Eastern Conference’s best teams. Having said that, the Celtics are 10 games ahead of the Bucks for first place in the East, highlighting just how dominant Joe Mazzulla’s team has been.

A lot of the Celtics’ success this year stems from a 31-3 SU record at TD Garden this season. Not only is their 91.2% home winning percentage No. 1 in the NBA, but their plus-15.7 average scoring margin in their own backyard is also the best rate.

For comparison, the Bucks are 17-17 SU on the road (50%, T-15th) with a minus-0.3 average scoring margin (14th). Additionally, Milwaukee has dropped three of its last four away contests.

While the Celtics have been thriving at home this season, the Bucks have been fairly average on the road. 

The Bucks’ chances of victory will be worse if Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t play tonight. The “Greek Freak” is questionable due to a hamstring issue — the same injury that held him out of Sunday’s win over the Suns. He’s Milwaukee’s leader in points (30.8) and rebounds (11.2), making it easy to see why his absence would be detrimental.

Update: NBA insider Shams Charania has confirmed that Antetokounmpo won’t play tonight. 

Furthermore, MarJon Beauchamp (back) will probably suit up after missing the last five games.

The Celtics are also dealing with their fair share of injuries, though. Jrue Holiday (shoulder), Jaylen Brown (ankle), and Sam Hauser (ankle) are all questionable to suit up.

Having said that, Brown did play against the Pistons, so I don’t see him missing tonight’s contest. Holiday sat out of that game while Hauser exited it with his ankle sprain, so it’s best to monitor their situations ahead of tipoff.

Jaylen Brown (ankle) is questionable to face the Bucks tonight. 

As good as the Bucks are, you have to take the Celtics to win at home. They’ve only lost three games at TD Garden all season and even beat the Bucks at home a few months ago. It’ll be a close-fought contest, no doubt, but Milwaukee isn’t anything special on the road and Boston will cement that with another win this evening.

It’s also a no-brainer to back the Over on the 225.5-point total. After all, the first two Celtics-Bucks clashes of the campaign featured at least 235 points — nearly 10 more than tonight’s projected total. Throw in the fact that both sides are banged up and it’s easy to imagine that we won’t see the best defense, leading to a high-scoring tilt.

Bucks vs Celtics NBA Prediction: BOS wins

Best Bucks vs Celtics NBA Bet: o225.5 Total Points (-110)

Get 50% up to $750 on your Bucks vs Celtics NBA picks today at Bovada

Best Bucks vs Celtics NBA Prop Bet (3/20)

Prop bets are currently unavailable on Bovada, so we’re going to BetOnline to take Jayson Tatum to record over 26.5 points.

Tatum is playing some of his best basketball of the 2023-24 NBA season. The five-time All-Star is averaging a cool 27.8 points on 46.7% shooting over his last 10 games, finishing with the Over six times — including two 30-point efforts in his last three games.

The Over is also 5-3 across Tatum’s last eight meetings with the Bucks. With the Celtics potentially shorthanded tonight, look for the ex-Duke product to step up.

Best Bucks vs Celtics Prop Bet: Jayson Tatum o26.5 Points (-108)

Get 50% up to $1,000 on your Bucks vs Celtics NBA picks today at BetOnline

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