Eastern Conference finals preview in early post-season matchup as Celtics visits the Bucks

It’s another potential Eastern Conference final matchup as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks get set to take on a hot Boston Celtics team Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with all the action airing live on TNT.

Last season saw the Bucks finish with the best regular season record, winning 58 games and becoming the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, with Antetokounmpo averaging over 30 points per game and 10 rebounds, putting himself firmly into the MVP conversation once again, having already won it twice, in 2019 and 2020.

This year, the Greek Freak is back doing what he does best, wreaking havoc with his athleticism to prove yet again that he is a top five player on both ends through his first 15 games, averaging 29.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 60.7 field goal percentage. However, there is one glaring difference this season — the addition of superstar point guard Damian Lillard.

In their regular season debut against the Philadelphia 76ers, the duo would combine for a total of 62 points, with Antetokounmpo adding 13 rebounds and shooting 10-for22 from the floor. While Lillard has brought a breath of fresh air to the Bucks, it hasn’t come without its growing pains, with Lillard taking a career-low 14.2 shots per game and posting his lowest usage rating since 2015.

Meanwhile, for the Boston Celtics, the addition of NBA champion and former Milwaukee Buck Drew Holiday has been seamless, with the Celtics off to an incredible start this year sitting top five in points differential (+8.4), points allowed (108.1) and rebounds (47.5).

The last time these two teams faced each other, the Celtics walked away victorious, 119-116, with franchise player Jason Taytum playing through a cold but putting up 23 points and 11 rebounds and with Jaylen Brown adding 26 points and eight assists. For the Bucks, Antetokounmpo was held to only 21 points, having come off scoring 40 points in his previous two games.

Looking for a much better performance in their second regular season matchup, look for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to come out with guns blazing as the battle for the top seed in the Eastern Conference continues Thursday, Jan. 11, as the Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with all the action broadcast live on TNT.