Bryan Armetta shares his two favorite player props on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks matchup.
An Eastern Conference showdown is on tap tonight in Milwaukee. The Bucks, even with Giannis Antetokounmpo injured, have their eyes set on a playoff berth. On the flip side, Boston has made the most of this season despite the absence of Jayson Tatum. The Celtics are 15-9, currently on track to host a postseason series.
Both clubs come into this one with plenty on the line. Which players will step up, or falter, on Thursday? The Celtics are favored by 9.5 points (-102) over the Bucks, with the over/under set at 224.5 points. Here are two of the top prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s Celtics vs. Bucks matchup.
Celtics vs. Bucks prop bet picks
Ryan Rollins under 18.5 points (-116)
As previously mentioned, Antetokounmpo remains sidelined with a calf injury. To the casual fan, that should mean more production for the rest of Milwaukee’s roster. However, it also means defenses will be able to spread out rather than prioritize the Greek Freak. Ryan Rollins has been a welcome surprise for the Bucks, emerging as an everyday starter. Through 25 games, the Toldeo alum is averaging 17.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists. In addition, he’s notched 48/39/78 shooting splits.
Rollins’s scoring has taken a hit in recent weeks. In five of his last six games, the fourth-year pro has failed to record more than 16 points. To make matters worse, Thursday presents a significant challenge for Milwaukee’s offense. Boston plays at the NBA’s slowest pace, limiting possessions for their opponents. In addition, the Celtics are giving up the third-fewest points per game in basketball (110.6). Add it all up, and it’s difficult to envision Rollins dominating this evening.
Neemias Queta 10+ rebounds (-120)
On a Celtics squad riddled with uncertainty, center was the team’s biggest question mark. So far, Neemias Queta has done an admirable job filling in down low. The 26-year-old isn’t the most consistent player, often fluctuating between great and invisible performances. Still, any Boston fan has to be pleased with the big man’s numbers this season. Over 22 games, he’s accounted for 10.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. He’s been efficient as well, delivering a team-leading 66% field goal percentage.
The Bucks already had issues boxing out with Antetokounmpo healthy. Now that the former MVP is out, it’s open season on the glass for their opponents. Starting center Myles Turner, a stellar rim protector, doesn’t snag a ton of boards either. This season, Milwaukee has surrendered 55.8 rebounds per game, the NBA’s fifth-highest total. In addition, the team has allowed the tenth-most points per game to its opponents (118.0). In six of his last ten games, Queta has tallied at least 20 points + rebounds. That’s despite averaging only 24 minutes during that time. Any increase in playing time against an undersized Bucks squad should give Queta a slight boost.