Christmas Day NBA Odds: Celtics vs. Bucks Preview, Pick & Prediction
Celtics vs. Bucks Odds
| Celtics Odds | +6.5 |
| Bucks Odds | -6.5 |
| Over/Under | 220.5 |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 25 |
| Time | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ABC |
The second installment of today’s NBA Christmas Day action will feature the Boston Celtics against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum. Similar to the rest of the league, this contest will be impacted by COVID-19 and injuries. Boston has already ruled out Enes Freedom, C.J. Miles, Josh Richardson, Grant Williams, and four others due to health and safety protocols. Al Horford, Marcus Smart, and Jabari Parker are each listed as questionable. Milwaukee fans will be thrilled to see Giannis Antetokounmpo back on the floor for the first time since December 13 this afternoon. Only Brook Lopez and Donte Divencenzo are listed on the Bucks’ official injury report as of this writing. Oddsmakers are anticipating the return of Antetokounmpo being a difference-maker, pricing the Bucks as 7-point home favorites on the spread at online sportsbooks.
Let’s take a closer look at Celtics vs. Bucks odds before making our prediction and pick for Christmas Day.
Celtics
Although the line has moved dramatically against Boston in the last 24 hours, the Celtics are not doomed in this holiday matchup. Even if the Celtics end up being without Freedom, Richardson, Williams, Horford, and Smart, there is still hope for this group today. The biggest challenge for Boston will be the fact that this roster has only totaled 85 possessions this year with none of Freedom, Richardson, Williams, Horford, and Smart on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. Attempting to develop team chemistry in real-time could be problematic in this one against one of the best teams in the NBA.
If looking to take advantage of Boston’s missing pieces, bettors could be interested in exploring PrizePicks in this one. Jaylen Brown has scored 23 or more points in three consecutive games, and has his over/under listed at 22.5 points on PrizePicks. Jayson Tatum is averaging 34.5 points per game in his last two contests against the Bucks, and has his over/under on PrizePicks listed at 25.5 points.
Bucks
In a prime time affair, it is far from ideal to lean towards betting the team being asked to cover nearly double-digits on the spread. However, the current market price is difficult to dispute. When Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are on the court together this season, they rank in the 93rd percentile in offensive efficiency and the 94th percentile in defensive efficiency. Antetokounmpo could face a minutes restriction in his first game action in roughly two weeks, but there have been no reports confirming or denying this suspicion to this point. Regardless, Milwaukee has arguably the most dominant big-three in basketball available for Saturday. Expect the Bucks to present a lot of problems for a depleted Boston roster in this one.
If more interested in a player prop for Milwaukee, Jrue Holiday’s over/under is listed at 19.5 points on PrizePicks. Holiday has scored 20 or more points in five consecutive contests, and seven of his last nine games. He is averaging 21.6 points per game during the month of December.
Pick and Prediction
Milwaukee has better health, more talent, more depth, and home court advantage in this Christmas Day matchup. Bettors may feel cheated that they missed opening line value at sportsbooks, but this is still a playable line at the current price, assuming Horford and Smart are not in the lineup. If Horford and Smart suit up, this line should be closer to five points. A small play on Milwaukee is the smart wager in this spot, but be sure to monitor Boston’s injury report as tip-off approaches.
PICK: Bucks -6.5 (-110)
Image Credit: Imagn