Boston Celtics (15-9) at Milwaukee Bucks (10-15) Game #25 12/11/25

Boston Celtics (15-9) at Milwaukee Bucks (10-15)Thursday, November 11, 20258:00 PM ETTV: NBCSB, FDSWI, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, WTMJ (103..3), Sirius XMRegular Season Recreation #25, Highway Recreation #13Fiserv Discussion board

The Celtics go to the Milwaukee Bucks for the primary of 4 video games between these two groups this season. They may play in Boston on February 1 and in Milwaukee on March 2 and April 13. Because of the in-season event, they face the anomaly of enjoying 3 occasions in Milwaukee and simply as soon as in Boston. The Celtics received the sequence 3-0 final season. They’re 121-112 total all time towards the Bucks and they’re 43-72 towards the Bucks all time in video games performed in Milwaukee.

The Bucks made a number of adjustments within the low season hoping to please Giannis and maintain him in Milwaukee. They waived Damian Lillard and stretched his contract. They let Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton go as free brokers. They introduced in Cole Anthony, Amir Coffey, Gary Harris and Miles Turner. They minimize Vasilije Micic.

The Celtics are third within the East, 2 video games behind 2nd place New York and 4 video games behind first place Detroit. They’re half a recreation forward of 4th place Orlando and 1 recreation forward of fifth place Toronto. The Celtics are 7-5 on the highway. They’re 11-6 towards Jap Convention opponents and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’ve received their final 5 video games.

The Bucks are tenth within the East, 4 video games behind sixth place Philadelphia, seventh place Cleveland, eighth place Miami, and ninth place Atlanta. They’re tied with eleventh place Chicago. They’re 7-7 at house. They’re 8-11 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re 2-8 of their final 10 video games. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.

After this recreation on the highway towards the Milwaukee Bucks, the Celtics will then play at house towards the Pistons. These 2 video games have been added to the schedule after the Celtics did not qualify for the NBA Cup knock out rounds. After the Cup video games, they host Miami, play at Toronto, host Indiana after which head out on a 5 recreation highway journey by Indiana, Portland, Utah, Sacramento and the LA Clippers.

After this house recreation towards the Celtics, the Bucks wiil play at Brooklyn for his or her second recreation added due failing to make the NBA Cup video games. They they are going to host Toronto earlier than occurring a 5 recreation highway journey by Minnesota, Indiana, Memphis, Chicago, and Charlotte. They they play Washington and Charlotte at house earlier than a 4 recreation highway journey by Sacramento, Golden State, the LA Clippers and Denver.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum stays out as he rehabs his torn Achilles however rumors are ramping up about his return this season. Chris Boucher will miss this recreation on account of a non-COVID sickness. Amari Williams is out on account of a hairline fracture in his hand. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is out on account of a calf harm. Taurean Prince is out on account of a neck harm and AJ Inexperienced is questionable on account of a shoulder harm. If Inexperienced is out, Kyle Kuzma is more likely to get the beginning.

Possible Beginning Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Ryan Rollins

SG: Payton Pritchard vs Kevin Porter, Jr

SF: Jaylen Brown vs Kyle Kuzma

PF: Jordan Walsh vs Jericho Sims

C: Neemias Queta vs Myles Turner

Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsHugo GonzalezXavier TillmanJosh MinottSam HauserLuka GarzaBaylon ScheiermanChris Boucher

2-Approach PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari Williams

Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outHead CoachJoe Mazzulla

Bucks ReservesThanasis AntetokounmpoCole AnthonyAmir CoffeyGary HarrisAndre Jackson, JrBobby Portis, JrGary Trent, Jr

Two-Approach PlayersAlex AntetokounmpoPete NanceMark Sears

Accidents/OutGiannis Antetokounmpo (calf) outTaurean Prince (neck) outAJ Inexperienced (shoulder) questionable

Key MatchupsPayton Pritchard vs Kevin Porter, Jr.Porter is averaging 21.8 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and a couple of.2 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 55.8% from the sector and an unimaginable 61.8% taking 5.7 threes per recreation. He’s enjoying very properly and the Celtics have to defend him properly, particularly on the perimeter. Additionally they want to concentrate on him within the passing lanes as he’s a menace to steal the ball.

Derrick White vs Ryan Rollins Rollins is averaging 17.5 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 47.6% from the sector and 39.0% from past the arc. Rollins can also be a very good 3 level shooter and so the Celtics have to defend the perimeter.Honorable MentionNeemias Queta vs Myles TurnerTurner is averaging 12.6 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 43.8% from the sector and 39.2% from past the arc. As with Rollins and Porter, Turner is an efficient 3 level shooter. He’s additionally a menace to dam photographs on the hoop.

Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times the most important key to profitable. Protection actually does win championships. The Celtics are seventeenth with a defensive ranking of 114.8. The Bucks are twenty second with a defensive ranking of 117.0. The Celtics should work more durable than the Bucks on protection and maintain their deal with the defensive finish in order to not enable any simple baskets for the Bucks. They particularly have to defend the perimeter because the Bucks high the league capturing 40.9% from past the arc as a crew.

Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is at all times a giant key to profitable. As Pat Riley as soon as stated, “No rebounds, no rings.” The important thing to rebounding is effort and focus. The Celtics are are 10-3 once they out rebound or are tied with their opponents and simply 5-6 when they’re out rebounded. The Bucks are final with 37.9 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are 18th with 43.8 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics must struggle to beat the Bucks to rebounds.

Don’t Underestimate the Bucks – The Bucks haven’t been enjoying properly, going simply 2-8 of their final 10 video games. Nonetheless, the Bucks are nonetheless a rival within the Jap Convention that may play exhausting. One in all their 2 wins within the final 10 was towards first place Detroit. The Celtics have to offer max effort on the boards and on protection and so they have to offer that effort for your complete recreation and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.

3 Level Capturing – The Celtics are third within the league, averaging 43.3 three pointers per recreation. They’re capturing 36.9% as a crew from past the arc. The Bucks are twelfth, averaging 37.9 threes a recreation and first within the league capturing 40.9% on threes as a crew. The Celtics make 16 threes a recreation whereas the Bucks make 15.5 thees a recreation. The Celtics have to work to get open and transfer the ball to seek out the most effective photographs. If the three’s aren’t falling, they should take the ball inside. And they should defend the perimeter or the Bucks will bury them in 3s.

X-FactorsOn the Highway – The Celtics are on the highway and so can have the distractions of journey, being away from household, staying in motels, and enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd. They should keep targeted and never enable any of these distractions to remove from enjoying their recreation. Each crew offers their finest to attempt to beat the Celtics and the Bucks can have extra motivation to play exhausting towards them. Traditionally, the Celtics are simply 43-72 in Milwaukee. They should keep targeted and play exhausting and never let up.

Teaching – Doc Rivers coached the Celtics from 2004 till 2013 and stop when the Celtics traded Pierce and Garnett to begin a rebuild. The Celtics have had a comparatively quick rebuild and have been largely profitable since he left. Doc has struggled in every of his stops with the Clippers, 76ers and now the Bucks. Doc would love nothing greater than to beat his former crew whereas Joe simply needs to beat all people, irrespective of who they’re.

Officiating – The officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house crew and others name it evenly. Some refs simply appear to have an agenda that doesn’t match the play on the courtroom. And generally the refs are merely unhealthy. The Celtics must play by nonetheless the refs name the sport, whether or not it’s tight or they allow them to play or they make horrible calls. The Celtics can’t enable unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their deal with the sport.