Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics game preview, Digi Mart USA News (Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI): The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to halt a five-game losing streak when they host Eastern Conference heavyweight Boston Celtics, who beat Milwaukee by seven points without Jayson Tatum on Wednesday. The two teams appear to be moving in very different directions.
After a slow start, Boston is surging at 7-2 and challenging the Sixers for the No. 1 seed in the conference. Milwaukee, meanwhile, is 1-8 and faces a daunting schedule that could extend its losing streak.
On the positive side, the Bucks’ youth looks promising, with Brayden Burries performing well and Nate Ament taking encouraging developmental steps.
The Celtics have won their last two games, a back-and-forth victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday and a blowout Friday win over the Charlotte Hornets, and have claimed five wins in their last six. Boston sits second in the East, half a game behind the Sixers, and with the addition of Paul George, appears to be an early title contender.
Jayson Tatum has performed at an MVP level so far, aside from a notable low point in the season opener against the Detroit Pistons. His highlights include a 36-point near-triple-double against the Knicks, a 40-point outburst against the Nets that included a game-winning shot, and a recent 34-point near-triple-double against the Hornets in just 29 minutes.
Paul George has averaged just under 20 points per game on solid shooting, Derrick White remains a steady presence, and Neemias Queta anchors one of the league’s best defenses.
Injury report: For the Bucks, Bogoljub Markovic is out on a G League assignment. For the Celtics, Chris Cenac Jr.
is out on a G League assignment.
Player to watch: Derrick White is a connective guard with a high basketball IQ, solid playmaking and elite perimeter defense. Against Milwaukee on Wednesday he scored 24 points on 7-of-18 shooting and added seven assists.
Against the Hornets he scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting with five assists and four rebounds. He is expected to be a key point-of-attack defender against a Milwaukee backcourt that has been prone to turnovers.
Watching Brayden Burries match up against one of his draft comparisons should also be interesting.
Game details: The Milwaukee Bucks (1-8) host the Boston Celtics (7-2) at 7:00 p.m. CST at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The game is broadcast on MY24, and local listings should be checked for radio coverage.
Prediction: The Celtics lead by at least 15 points by the end of the first quarter. Boston led Milwaukee 28-14 after the first quarter of their last meeting, and that was without Tatum.
Boston’s aggressive defense could give the streaky Bucks trouble, and the Celtics’ offensive star power could make this a one-sided contest.
