Christmas Day is a key date on the NBA calendar every year, and this season is no exception, even if it falls on an NFL Sunday. There will be five celebratory matchups in the association, including an Eastern Conference Semifinals rematch between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Not only are these two teams heading into the Eastern Conference for the first few months of the year, but they also boast the best records in the entire league. Boston enters Sunday’s main draw with a 23-10 overall record, while Milwaukee is 22-10 ahead of this bout at TD Garden.
Not surprisingly, these two teams currently lead all relevant futures markets. The Celtics are the favorites to win the championship with a price of +310 on Caesars Sportsbook while the Bucks are priced at +550. Boston is +180 to win the Eastern Conference for the second straight year, though Milwaukee is +230.
This will be the first of three regular-season meetings between these two teams, and it could serve as a litmus test ahead of a potential playoff series matchup. The Celtics will travel to Milwaukee on February 14 and March 30, but this year’s Christmas Day showdown could have a bigger impact on the narratives and the futures market.
Unfortunately for the Celtics, they’re in a bit of a rut — at least by their high standards — entering this matchup. Boston earned a 121-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, ending a three-game slip and the team’s longest losing streak of the season. The Celtics have lost five of their last seven games, including two home losses to the Orlando Magic.
The Bucks come into this two-game sled in this holiday basketball bout after dropping road games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets. They have won just three of their last seven competitions.
At Caesars Sportsbook, Boston is a 4.5-point favorite against Milwaukee with a 225.5 over/under. Bettors can price +162 on the moneyline with the Bucks, but would need to place -195 juice to fully support the Celtics.
For the season, Boston is 19-14 against the spread with the fifth-best coverage ratio (57.6%) in the league. Milwaukee is 17-13-2 and ranks ninth with a 56.7% coverage rate. The Celtics are down 16-15-2 and the Bucks have a 16-16 clip on aggregate this weekend.
Those two sides met on Christmas Day last year when the Bucks overcame a 19-point deficit to record a 117-113 win over the Celtics. Boston and Milwaukee then went the distance in a seven-game series, with each night being a fight.
After we unwrap our presents from Santa, this game is a must-watch when it starts at 5:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. Since neither team has a huge advantage in this duel, it would be wise to side with the home team (and the better one) in this match.
Forecast: Celtic’s 116, Buck’s 110
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