Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the league in scoring with 32.6 points per game.
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Two of the NBA’s most dominant franchises in recent years, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, are set to face off tonight on ESPN (7:30 p.m. ET). Since the start of the 2019-20 season, no teams have been more successful: Boston leads the league with 274 wins, while Milwaukee trails closely behind with 271.
Both have claimed an NBA title in this span, and at least one has reached the Eastern Conference Finals in each of the past six seasons. Now, these Eastern Conference powerhouses meet for the third time this season, with the Bucks eager to avenge two prior losses and continue their recent surge.
Bucks Catching Fire
After a shaky 2-8 start, Milwaukee has found its groove, winning nine of its last 11 games to climb from 12th to fifth in the East.
What’s behind the turnaround? The Bucks’ shooting from deep has been electric. In their first 10 games, they shot 35.6% from beyond the arc, averaging 12.6 made 3-pointers per game. But since then, they’ve been the NBA’s best from downtown, shooting 41.9% and hitting 16.5 triples a night.
On the defensive end, Milwaukee has also clamped down. The Bucks have held opponents under 50% shooting in 14 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the league this season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have anchored the Bucks. The dynamic duo is thriving, combining for a league-best 58.5 points per game. Giannis, celebrating his 30th birthday tonight, leads the charge with 32.6 points per game, while Lillard chips in 25.9.
Celtics Setting The Standard
Boston enters the matchup with the NBA’s second-best record at 18-4, fueled by their own superstar pairing. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are averaging a combined 53.6 points per game, ranking second among NBA duos behind Milwaukee’s tandem.
The Celtics’ success stems from their depth and lethal three-point shooting. While Tatum (+10.2) and Brown (+10.1) rank second and third in the NBA in plus-minus, they’re also supported by seven Celtics players averaging at least two made threes per game.
Boston leads the league with 19.1 made threes per game and has reached the 20-triple mark in nine games this season — four more than any other team. They’ve gone a perfect 9-0 in those games, contributing to a historic 91.5% winning percentage (54-5 all-time) when making 20 or more threes.
The stage is set for a thrilling battle between two title contenders. Will Giannis mark his milestone birthday with a signature win, or will Boston crash the party?
This article was pulled from our Starting 5 Newsletter, a daily look at all things NBA. To get the newsletter in your inbox every morning, subscribe here.
