The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics have championship pedigrees, and both teams hope to win another NBA championship this season.
They meet in Boston on Monday, Oct. 28, for the first time in 2024-25. The reigning world champion Celtics are favored by almost double digits.
Today, we’re looking at our Bucks vs. Celtics NBA predictions, picks and best bets.
Bucks vs. Celtics predictions and best bets
- Celtics -9.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
- First quarter total: Over 57.5 points (-130 at FanDuel)
- Derrick White Over 3.5 3s (+120 at DraftKings)
Boston has picked up where it left off last season when it raced through the playoffs with a 16-3 record. The Celtics (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS) have scored 126 points per game in three wins and had to sweat only one of those games.
They tied the NBA record with 29 made 3-pointers in their season-opening win over New York and have kept rolling since then, shooting 44.2% from deep in three games. Boston presents a brutal matchup for Milwaukee.
The Bucks (1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS) allowed a combined 60 points to Chicago’s Coby White and Zach LaVine and a combined 62 points to Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas and Dennis Schroeder. If Milwaukee allowed those backcourt duos to have big performances, what will they allow against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown?
A strong wire-to-wire effort is necessary to score as many points as the Celtics have. Boston has not disappointed, going 3-0 to the Over in the first quarter this season. The Celtics are the only NBA team to be 3-0 to the Over, and they have surpassed the totals by 10.5 points.
The lowest total Boston and its opponents have combined for in the first quarter is 65 points — well ahead of the 57.5 points available at FanDuel Sportsbook for tonight’s game.
Derrick White is one of seven Boston players averaging at least two made 3-pointers per game. White is fourth on the team with 10 triples on 43.5% shooting. He shot 6 for 10 from behind the arc in the opener against New York and 4 for 7 in the second game against Washington.
White was 0 for 6 in the last game against Detroit, so he will be excited to get back on the TD Garden court to get back on track.
Bucks vs. Celtics moneyline odds analysis
Why Boston could win as the favorite
Best odds: -450 at FanDuel Sportsbook
The Celtics will lose at some point. Even the record-setting Chicago and Golden State teams that won more than 70 regular season games had off nights.
Boston is on fire offensively and can play some of the best defense in the league. Milwaukee can play at a championship level, but the Bucks are not currently playing that way.
Tatum and Brown and the handful of other shooters on the Celtics’ roster at or near the top of their games are too much for the Bucks.
Why Milwaukee could win as the underdog
Best odds: +350 at DraftKings Sportsbook
Milwaukee boasts superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard who can carry any team by themselves. Together they can be unstoppable.
Lillard has yet to find his shooting touch, but if he catches fire and has a vintage performance, the Bucks can steal this one. If Lillard is shooting lights out, the game will open up Antetokounmpo.
The Celtics are a great defensive team, but no NBA team has an answer for Lillard and Antetokounmpo when they are playing their best.