The Boston Celtics are seeking their longest winning streak of the season on Saturday night, looking to win their fourth straight after Friday's 107-96 home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
They'll have to go through a Milwaukee Bucks team that has won five of its last six, despite a 117-111 loss at the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
Projected Starting Lineups
Boston Celtics (19-30)
G Marcus Smart – 6.5 ppg, 3.6 apg
G Avery Bradley – 13.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg
F Evan Turner – 8.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.4 apg
F Jared Sullinger – 14.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg
C Brandon Bass – 9.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Milwaukee Bucks (27-23)
G Brandon Knight - 17.7 ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.2 rpg
G Khris Middleton – 11.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg
F Giannis Antetokounmpo – 12.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg
F Jared Dudley – 7.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg
C John Henson – 6.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg
What to watch for:
Can Bradley and Thornton stay hot from deep?
The Boston Celtics' 33% 3-point percentage places them in the bottom third of the NBA in 2014-15, but SG Marcus Thornton and PG Avery Bradley are threatening to pull the Celtics out of the muck. Thornton is shooting 50% from deep (13-for-26) over his past five contests, while Avery Bradley has drained seven of eleven (63.6%) in his last three games. If they can stay hot from the perimeter, Boston has a chance.
Bucks are depleted in the frontcourt
The Bucks got Ersan Ilyasova back Friday from a four-game absence due to a strained right groin. However, their frontcourt is still paper thin with Zaza Pachulia having missed five games in a row with a strained right calf, and Kenyon Martin having sat out two contests with left ankle problems. The Celtics will be still be without Kelly Olynyk (sprained right ankle), but Jared Sullinger should get some favorable looks down low for Boston.
Prediction: Celtics win 99-97
In a minor upset, we see the Celtics taking their winning streak to a season-high four games by shooting lights out from beyond the arc and exploiting the Bucks' frontcourt woes. This should prove to be a close game regardless, but give a Celtics team building confidence for the future the slight edge in this one.
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