Celtics host skidding Bucks with Jayson Tatum questionable

The Milwaukee Bucks (1-6), losers of three straight, visit the Celtics (5-2) in Boston on Wednesday, November 4, in a game that turns on tempo and Jayson Tatum, who is questionable.

Boston scores 114.2 points per 100 possessions, seventh in the league. Milwaukee allows 118.5, 27th, and rarely takes the ball away: opponents turn it over on 10.3% of their trips, the lowest rate in the NBA. The Celtics should get a shot up on almost every possession.

Tempo is the other fight. The Bucks play at the third-fastest pace in the league, 104.8 possessions a game. Boston plays at 99.5, 27th.

Milwaukee's best opening is the glass. The Bucks rebound 30.1% of their own misses, eighth in the league, while Boston ranks 27th in defensive rebounding. Kel'el Ware averages 8.7 rebounds, 3.4 of them on the offensive end.

Tyler Herro leads Milwaukee with 21.9 points a game on 45.9% shooting. Myles Turner blocks 2.9 shots a game.

Tatum averages 27 points and 7.9 assists for Boston. Paul George adds 2.3 steals a game on a defense that forces turnovers at the sixth-highest rate in the league.

Payton Pritchard, who plays 28 minutes a game, is also questionable, as are three other Celtics. Devin Carter, at 17.9 minutes, is out and expected back Sunday, November 8.

The Bucks lost 132-100 to Houston and 136-111 to Cleveland at home, then 112-100 at Minnesota. Boston won four in a row, including a 125-124 escape against Brooklyn, before a 109-93 loss at Houston.

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET. Sportsbooks' prices give the Celtics an 81% chance to win; our projection puts it at 82%, with Boston by 11.6 points.