Celtics' odds for No. 1 seed improve with Bucks resting core players
The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference has been tightly wrapped with a pretty bow on top for the Boston Celtics (52-29). All that remains is for it to be dropped off outside their front door.
The Milwaukee Bucks (42-39) - who will face the Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden in the season finale - will be heavily undermanned, as All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and key players Khris Middleton, Tony Snell, and Matthew Dellavedova did not travel with their team.
Milwaukee has already locked up the sixth seed and a first-round matchup with the Toronto Raptors, making Wednesday's game a mere formality without any consequence.
Boston, however, has something to compete for, as a victory over the Bucks - or a Cleveland Cavaliers (51-30) loss to the Raptors - will clinch first place for the Celtics.
LeBron James will reportedly sit out against Toronto; the reigning NBA champion possesses an 0-7 record this season when he doesn't take the floor.