Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics
PREVIEW: The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks face off at Fiserv Forum on Monday with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. EST. The Bucks will contend with two quality centers when hosting Boston, as the Celtics' center position has evolved into one of their greatest strengths this season. Starter Neemias Queta delivered what may be his finest performance since entering the NBA, tallying a career-high 27 points with 17 rebounds in Boston's recent 114-98 victory over Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee continues operating without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, sidelined for the past 15 games due to a right calf strain. The Bucks suffered a disappointing 120-97 loss to Chicago on Sunday, during which the Bulls unleashed a devastating 27-point scoring run while Milwaukee missed 17 consecutive shots at one point in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee sits three games behind the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference and desperately needs to climb back into playoff contention. Boston ranks among the league's elite defensive squads and possesses multiple offensive weapons, presenting a formidable challenge for the struggling hosts. Both teams are on the back end of a back-to-back after playing Sunday, adding another layer of fatigue to this Eastern Conference matchup.