Tip-off in Milwaukee and on NBC Sports Boston is set for 8 p.m. Eastern. Here’s a preview.
When: Thursday, 8 p.m.
Get Starting Point
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
TV, radio: NBCSB, WROR-FM 105.7
Line: Boston -9. O/U: 223.5.
CELTICS
Season record: 15-9. vs. spread: 14-10. Over/under: 12-12
Last 10 games: 8-2. vs. spread: 9-1. Over/under: 6-4
BUCKS
Season record: 10-15. vs. spread: 11-14. Over/under: 12-13
Last 10 games: 2-8. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 4-6
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Boston 117.3, Milwaukee 115.1
Points allowed per game: Boston 110.6, Milwaukee 118.0
Field goal percentage: Boston .473, Milwaukee .491
Opponent field goal percentage: Boston .446, Milwaukee .474
3-point percentage: Boston .369, Milwaukee .409
Opponent 3-point percentage: Boston .369, Milwaukee .361
Stat of the day: Jaylen Brown is averaging 29.1 points per game, sixth-most in the NBA this season.
Notes: Boston won twice at home and also beat Milwaukee on the road last year to sweep the three-game season set. With Thursday’s game added because of the NBA Cup results, the series will be expanded to four games this year. … Boston’s injury report is clean, outside of Jayson Tatum (Achilles), who has not yet been ruled out of the season after suffering the injury in last year’s playoffs, sparking interest given Boston currently sits third in the Eastern Conference. “It’s all up to him. At the end of the day, his health is the most important thing,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “To me, the only thing I care about is his presence and his leadership. He’s doing that in different ways.” … The Bucks last played on Saturday, when they failed to replicate a recent home win over Detroit and lost 124-112 on the road against the Pistons. Kevin Porter Jr. continued his hot streak since returning from a knee injury, scoring 32 points and dishing six assists. … Porter Jr. is up to 21.8 points and just shy of six assists per night in his six games played, providing a much-needed boost for Milwaukee without Antetokounmpo. Ryan Rollins averages 17.5 points and six assists.
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.
