Milwaukee Bucks Game 5 Preview: April 23 at Boston Celtics

Major key for Milwaukee – Apply pressure early

With the last two wins and a feeling that their players are growing into the contest, the Milwaukee Bucks have seized much of the momentum in this series.

As things pivot back to Boston, the atmosphere will likely be very different than it was when the two teams were here last week, and in what’s effectively become a best-of-three series, home court advantage is now essential.

Milwaukee can’t avoid the fact that they only have one remaining home game to close out the series, but Tuesday night gives them an opportunity to pick up a road win and steal that advantage away from the Celtics.

If that’s to have any chance of coming to pass, the Bucks will likely need to win the first quarter. Through four games, the team with the advantage at the end of the first 12 minutes has always gone on to secure a win. In spite of the ups and downs that have followed in those games, it seems there’s something to be said for the psychological advantage of striking first in this matchup.

To frame that even more specifically for Game 5, if the Bucks can build an early lead, they can suck much of the energy out of TD Garden, and potentially sap the confidence of Boston’s players too.

The winner of Game 5 will be in prime position to close out the series, and a fast start would certainly help the Bucks on their way.