Boston Celtics (29-8, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (25-12, second in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Bucks -6; over/under is 240
BOTTOM LINE: Boston faces the Milwaukee Bucks after Jayson Tatum scored 45 points in the Celtics' 127-120 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Bucks are 20-10 in Eastern Conference games. Milwaukee is 7-4 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 12.9 turnovers per game.
The Celtics are 22-5 in Eastern Conference play. Boston is seventh in the Eastern Conference with 11.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Neemias Queta averaging 2.1.
The Bucks make 49.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.8 percentage points higher than the Celtics have allowed to their opponents (45.0%). The Celtics are shooting 48.1% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 47.2% the Bucks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Celtics won 119-116 in the last matchup on Nov. 23. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points, and Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 28 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Lopez is scoring 12.5 points per game and averaging 5.0 rebounds for the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 33.6 points and 12.6 rebounds over the last 10 games for Milwaukee.
Tatum is averaging 28 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Celtics. Derrick White is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Boston.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 5-5, averaging 122.5 points, 44.1 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 5.3 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.6 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 127.8 points, 49.4 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 6.1 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.2 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Jae Crowder: out (groin), Cameron Payne: day to day (concussion protocol).
Celtics: Kristaps Porzingis: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
