NBA picks: Celtics vs. Bucks betting predictions, plays against the spread

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Don’t miss NBC Sports Boston's coverage of Celtics-Bucks, which tips off Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live, and then Mike & Tommy have the call of the game at 7:30 p.m. You can also stream the game through the MyTeams App.

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The Boston Celtics' gauntlet of an early-season schedule rolls on Wednesday.

After showdowns with the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors to start the season, the Celtics take on reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden on Wednesday night.

That means our NBA betting preview is back, as we'll give you our betting picks for Boston's moneyline, point spread and point total, as well as two more "locks" on the NBA slate.

We've been successful in our picks so far this season, but Wednesday's tricky home matchup will put our NBA knowledge to the test.

Here are our picks for Wednesday. (All odds provided by WestGate Superbook.)

Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET

Moneyline: Kemba Walker quickly snapped out of his early-season funk, and I'm tempted to back the home team after Friday's impressive win over Toronto. But Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are a different animal. Milwaukee is an excellent road team (19-8 against the spread in its last 27 road games) and have won three straight games at TD Garden. I'm taking the Bucks (-140) here.

Point Spread: The Bucks (-2.5) as road favorites gives me pause, but Enes Kanter's absence (and Daniel Theis being questionable) will be the difference. The (relatively) undersized Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum can only do so much on Antetokounmpo, who is due for a big game after a slow start. Boston has the revenge factor and will keep this close, but Milwaukee's depth and talent wins out.

Point Total: Why the lofty 222 point total? Well, the Bucks' defense is giving up 118 points per game to start the season, and the over has hit in 18 of these teams' last 26 meetings in Boston. Expect another shoot-out at TD Garden on Wednesday night. Give me the OVER.

Darren's record picking the Celtics' moneyline, point spread and point total: 6-0

NBA Locks of the Night

Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers (-6.5): The Wolves have raised a few eyebrows over a 3-0 start. But they face a legitimate 3-0 club in the Sixers, who beat a solid Celtics team by 14 points in their lone home game this season. Minnesota will hang around, but expect Philly to cover as a home favorite.

Portland Trail Blazers (-1) at Oklahoma City Thunder: Don't be fooled by the Thunder's home rout of the Golden State Warriors. They're not a good team. Portland has covered the spread in 54 percent of its road games since the beginning of last season (8th-best in the NBA), and Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum should continue that trend in OKC.

Darren's record picking NBA locks against the spread: 2-2

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