Event of the Day: Boston Celtics versus Milwaukee Bucks
Our event of the day is the NBA fixture between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden. The Celtics are 5th in the Eastern Conference and will look to bounce back from an upset at the hands of the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks are 2nd in the Eastern Conference and will look to extend a three-game win streak. These are two hungry teams fighting for contention at the top of the Eastern Conference so expect an exciting game. The Boston Celtics were a pre-season favourite to reach the NBA Finals. They boasted a potent blend of seasoned veterans and young, fiery talent. However, the post-Cleveland Eastern Conference proved far more competitive than even the most astute pundit could have predicted. The Celtics are 5th with a record of 18-12. Despite an 8-2 record in their last 10 games, raising them from a 10-10 record at the end of November, they welcome the Bucks to TD Garden on a two-game losing streak. However, this is by no means a Celtics out of contention. Kyrie Irving, with his unpredictable agility, leads the team with 22.7 points per game. Jayson Tatum, the breakout star of Boston’s young talent, is a fast-paced small forward averaging 16.7 points per game. Boston is almost certainly going to the playoffs but the question remain as to what seed they will be.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks are 2nd in the Eastern Conference, a game and a half back from the conference-leading Toronto Raptors. The Bucks are on a three-game win streak and have won four of their last five. The star of the 2018-19 Bucks is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo is a fierce, hungry player. Every all-star has their speciality and for the Greek Freak, that speciality is dunking. He leads the NBA in dunks with 123 and is on-pace to shatter the single-season dunk record. While Giannis doesn’t have a jump shot to speak of, he excels in traversing the court in a few strides, holding off defenders and sinking two points. 55% of his dunks are unassisted, a testament to just how much of a solo talent that Antetokounmpo is. Overall, the Eastern Conference following the collapse of the post-Lebron Cleveland Cavaliers is one of the most competitive iterations of the conference in years. The Raptors and Bucks are vying for the top two seeds while the Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers and Celtics all vie for the next highest playoff spots. The Celtics and the Bucks are two teams enjoying success this season and are eager to the claim the throne vacated by Cleveland so expect a fiercely contested match in Boston tonight.
Honourable mentions go to the Premier League, where Wolverhampton Wanderers host Liverpool at Molineux. Wolves are making waves in their first premier league season since the 2010-11 season. They find themselves in 7th place, only one point behind Manchester United. They are enjoying a three-game win streak, which included a 2-1 victory that ended Chelsea’s unbeaten season. Meanwhile, Liverpool are the only remaining unbeaten team in the league and have won their last six. The last game they didn’t win was a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in early November. Liverpool are the team to beat but Wolves should by no means be underestimated. Be sure you don’t miss this exciting match in the West Midlands. Elsewhere, in equestrian, the Olympia Horse Show continues at Olympia in London. In college football, BYU and Western Michigan face off in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at the Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium. In the NHL, the New Jersey Devils host the Ottawa Senators at the Prudential Center.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by NBA