Boston arrives at Fiserv Forum riding a 51-25 record and a fully healthy Jayson Tatum, while Milwaukee suits up without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 10th straight game.
The Boston Celtics visit the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum Tonight in a matchup that means very different things to each team. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT with the game airing locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin. Cord-cutters can stream the game through DIRECTV or FuboTV, both of which offer free trials for new subscribers.
What is at stake
Celtics enters at 51-25, sitting 2.5 games clear of the New York Knicks for second in the Eastern Conference with six games remaining. The Celtics are in the process of locking down their playoff seed and arrived in Milwaukee on the back of a dominant performance against Miami, in which Jayson Tatum posted 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists while Jaylen Brown added 43 points. Tatum’s return to the Celtics from a torn Achilles has gone better than most expected, and Tonight represents another opportunity to build rhythm heading into the Celtics postseason.
Milwaukee is at 30-45 and has gone 7-16 since the All-Star break, losing five of its last six. For the Bucks, the calculus of Friday’s game is more complicated than simply trying to win. A loss would keep them within range of Chicago, which sits at 29-46, for a slightly better position in the lottery and improved odds at a top pick in the upcoming draft. The gap with New Orleans, at 25-51, also matters because of a draft pick swap provision that could shift Milwaukee’s pick depending on where each team finishes in the standings.
Is Giannis playing
No. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains out after hyperextending his left knee and sustaining a bone bruise on March 15. Friday will mark his 10th consecutive absence. The Bucks have maintained that he suffered no structural damage, but have continued to hold him out regardless, a decision that has created tension. The National Basketball Players Association issued a statement on Antetokounmpo’s behalf in late March, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the league would look into the situation. As of Friday, the league is actively inquiring into the injury and his actual ability to play. The regular season ends April 12 in Philadelphia.
Milwaukee’s injury picture
The Bucks are carrying a significant injury list into Friday. Kevin Porter Jr. is out with right knee synovitis and Bobby Portis Jr. is out with a left wrist sprain. Gary Trent Jr. and Thanasis Antetokounmpo are both listed as questionable. Ryan Rollins and Jericho Sims are probable and expected to be available.
The projected starting lineup for Milwaukee features Rollins and Ousmane Dieng at guard, Kyle Kuzma and Sims at forward and Myles Turner at center.
A coaching shift worth noting
Doc Rivers has been ceding in-game play-calling responsibilities to top assistant Darvin Ham in recent outings, describing the arrangement as an opportunity to let the league see what Ham is capable of as a head coach. Ham previously served as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2022 to 2024, going 90-74 in the regular season and leading the team to the NBA Cup title and the Western Conference finals in 2023. He took a broader role during Milwaukee’s win over Dallas on March 31 and continued in that capacity during the loss in Houston on April 1.
Celtics
Celtics arrives as a 17.5-point favorite with the total set at 217.5. Tatum has cleared 22.5 points in five of his last 10 games and faces a Milwaukee defense that has shown vulnerability against versatile wing scorers who can create off the dribble. The matchup sets up cleanly for Boston to control the pace and extend its winning ways heading into the final week of the regular season.