BOSTON – The Milwaukee Bucks face one of the best workforce within the NBA within the Boston Celtics tonight at TD Backyard, as the 2 high groups within the Japanese Convention go head-to-head for the third time this yr.
The Celtics (54-14) received the primary assembly between the groups, 119-116, on Nov. 22 in Boston whereas the Bucks (44-24) received, 135-102, at Fiserv Discussion board on Jan. 11.
Is Giannis taking part in?
No. Giannis Antetokounmpo started the day questionable to play with left hamstring tendinopathy, and the MVP candidate was not seen on the Bucks’ shootaround on Wednesday morning in Boston. He was formally dominated out later within the afternoon.
Antetokounmpo missed the Bucks’ win over Phoenix on Sunday with soreness within the hamstring after going by pregame warmups. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers wasn’t able to name the hamstring concern an “harm” earlier than the sport towards the Suns, and famous it might give Antetokounmpo 5 days off earlier than the Celtics recreation. Antetokounmpo did some “mild” work in apply on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old mentioned he first felt a problem within the muscle when taking part in towards the Los Angeles Clippers on March 10, and he performed the subsequent two video games in Sacramento and towards Philadelphia.
“You don’t play with calves and hamstrings,” Antetokounmpo mentioned after the win over the 76ers on March 14. “They’re shaky. You possibly can really feel like a pressure or regardless of the case could also be and it’s (small) and it will get greater and larger and larger. So, that’s just about going to be longer out. So that you don’t mess with stuff like that.”
The ahead’s absence signifies that Rivers has had his “massive three” of Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard for simply three video games since taking on — which occurred to be his first three video games in Denver (Jan. 29), in Portland (Jan. 31) and at Dallas (Feb. 3).
Middleton sat out the Feb. 4 recreation in Utah as a part of knee administration on a back-to-back, then Lillard sat out in Phoenix on Feb. 6 with an ankle sprain — solely to see Middleton severely sprain his left ankle eight minutes into that recreation. He returned to the courtroom on Sunday, which was Antetokounmpo’s first absence with the hamstring.
The Bucks return dwelling for a recreation towards Brooklyn on Thursday, which is certainly one of their 13 remaining common season video games. The season ends in about three and a half weeks on April 14.
What’s the Bucks document with out Giannis?
3-1. The Bucks beat Toronto (Nov. 15), misplaced to Cleveland (Jan. 17), beat the Clippers (March 4) and the Suns (March 17).
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What channel is the Bucks recreation on?
The sport will probably be broadcast nationally on ESPN with Mark Jones, Doris Burke and Cassidy Hubbarth on the decision. Will probably be simulcast regionally on WMLW with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the decision.
What time is the Bucks recreation?
The sport is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. CT begin.
Bucks harm report
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, out (left hamstring tendinopathy)
- MarJon Beauchamp, possible (again spasms)
Bucks possible starters
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley
- Forwards: Khris Middleton, Jae Crowder
- Heart: Brook Lopez
Celtics harm report
- Jrue Vacation, questionable (proper AC joint sprain)
- Jaylen Brown, questionable (proper ankle sprain)
- Sam Hauser, questionable (left ankle sprain)
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Bucks nonetheless clinging to No. 2 seed within the Japanese Convention
The Bucks head into tonight’s recreation towards the Celtics 20 video games over .500 and in second place within the Japanese Convention and one recreation away from the Cleveland Cavaliers within the loss column. The Celtics, the one workforce within the NBA to have clinched a playoff spot already, are barreling towards the No. 1 seed – however Bucks head coach Doc Rivers mentioned lately he’s not too centered on the place his workforce falls by the top of the common season.
“I’ve by no means, in my total teaching profession, nervous about seedings,” he mentioned. “Both you’re ok otherwise you’re not. And that’s the underside line. I feel I’m going historical past lesson, however in 2010 should you bear in mind we elected to not play any of our guys within the final recreation, that switched us I feel from the (three) seed to the (4) seed and our guys didn’t care. We made it to the finals. If you happen to’re ok, you’re ok, should you’re not, you’re not, and that’s a truth. I let you know what, I’d relatively be wholesome sufficient. And that’s why you attempt to be sure to’re wholesome going into the playoffs. After which the second factor after well being, it’s a must to be taking part in effectively. ‘Trigger should you’re not taking part in effectively going into the playoffs you’re not going to make it both. So that you want these two issues going for you – well being and taking part in effectively.”
Rivers’ title-winning Boston workforce in 2007-08 was the No. 1 seed with a 66-16 document and his 2009-10 workforce was the fourth seed earlier than reaching the finals.
The Bucks made incomes the No. 1 seed a objective final common season and achieved it with a 58-24 document. However after an harm to Giannis Antetokounmpo within the first recreation of the primary spherical of the playoffs, they had been bounced in 5 video games by the Miami Warmth.
Milwaukee additionally earned the highest seed within the East in 2018-19 (60-22) and 2019-20 (56-17) and misplaced within the convention finals and second spherical, respectively.
The Bucks had been the No. 3 seed in 2020-21 at 46-26 earlier than profitable the NBA championship and the third seed in 2021-22 (51-31) earlier than shedding within the second spherical.
Bucks vs. Celtics odds, over/below
Boston is an 8.5-point favourite over Milwaukee. The over/below is 225.5 factors, per BetMGM.