Never underestimate the will of a champion.
The Milwaukee Bucks showed why Wednesday night in rallying from down 14 points in the fourth quarter to a 110-107 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals.
The defending league champs got 40 points and 11 rebounds from superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo at a stunned TD Garden. Jrue Holiday made huge plays on defense (a block and a steal late) and offense (24 points) to fuel the comeback.
The win gives Milwaukee a 3-2 series edge heading back home to Fiserv Forum for Game 6 on Friday night. Teams that have won Game 5 of a seven-game set tied at two games apiece go on to win the series at an 82% clip.
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The Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum with 34 points and six rebounds, and Jaylen Brown with 26 points and eight boards, will try to stave off elimination on the road. Game 3 star Al Horford managed just eight points in the come-from-ahead loss.
Will the third-seeded Bucks close out No. 2 Boston? FrontPageBets looks at interesting bets in the titanic clash that kicks off the weekend.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings.)
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Site: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
TV: ESPN
Spread: Milwaukee -1.5 (-110); Boston +1.5 (-110)
Money line: Milwaukee -125; Boston +105
Over/Under: 211 (-110)
Giannis Antetokounmpo points: Over 33.5 (-115); Under 33.5 (-110)Â
Jayson Tatum points: Over 29.5 (-110); Under 29.5 (-115)
Jrue Holiday three-pointers: Over 2.5 (-145); Under 2.5 (-190)
The pick: Boston, 110-107
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Gerry Ahern is senior content editor for FrontPageBets. A 35-year veteran sports editor and digital media executive, he has led coverage of the biggest events in sports, from Super Bowls, to Final Fours, to Olympics, to the Masters.Â