November 3, 2026 at 6:59 AM UTC
Pregame AnalysisCeltics Should Handle Bucks at Home Even Without Paul George
Boston's home form and Milwaukee's defensive troubles point to a comfortable Celtics win.
- MIL @ BOS Nov 5, 2026 at 12:30 AM UTC
Boston returns home at 5-1 overall and 4-0 at TD Garden, riding a five-game winning streak that includes a 108-97 win at Orlando. The Celtics are in the middle of eight games in 13 nights, and this one follows road games in Orlando and Houston. A home date against Milwaukee is a welcome break.
The schedule also explains why Paul George is listed out for rest. He has played well since arriving in the Jaylen Brown trade, so his absence costs Boston something. But the Celtics have shown they can win while short-handed. Guard Devin Carter, sidelined with mononucleosis, has missed every game this season, and Boston has still piled up wins. Payton Pritchard's 28-point night off the bench against Chicago, when he hit 7 of 10 from three, showed how quickly the Celtics can find offense from a reserve guard.
Milwaukee is a difficult team to trust on the road right now. The Bucks are 1-5, 0-2 away from home, and have lost four of their last five, including a 136-111 defeat to Cleveland and a 132-100 loss to Houston. They allow 126.2 points per game, and that is a serious problem against a Boston team that scored 125 in both a home win over Chicago and an overtime win over Brooklyn.
The Celtics don't need George to take advantage. If they get their usual home scoring and some more perimeter shooting from the bench, Milwaukee's defense is unlikely to hold up for 48 minutes. The Bucks may score enough to stay close early, but Boston's depth and form should win out. I'll take the Celtics 121-106.