BOSTON — If the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks see one another once more this season, it’s going to come within the postseason.
And Friday evening felt like a playoff preview between the 2 Jap Convention foes.
The Celtics and Bucks battled in a back-and-forth contest — there have been 14 lead modifications within the recreation — earlier than Boston got here by way of down the stretch within the fourth quarter to notch an 111-105 win at TD Backyard. The Celtics swept the three-game regular-season collection towards the Bucks and improved to 19-4 within the course of. Milwaukee, which got here in winners of seven of its final eight video games, dropped to 11-11.
Listed below are three studs and three duds from the sport as Boston’s stars actually made the final word distinction:
STUDS
Jayson Tatum
Tatum gifted his son a stellar efficiency as a birthday current. Tatum took over within the fourth quarter, making a handful of performs that modified the complexion of the competition. He started the body by hitting a 3-pointer after which changing a four-point play after which made a learn to seek out Jrue Vacation for a game-sealing basket with 25.6 seconds left. Tatum scored 14 of his game-high 34 factors within the fourth quarter and shot 12-for-20 from the sector. He notched a double-double by grabbing 10 rebounds whereas additionally doling out 5 assists.
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Jaylen Brown
Brown introduced an edge to his play on each ends of the court docket. He picked up Damian Lillard within the again court docket within the first half, making use of ample stress to the star guard and almost inflicting a turnover. He wasn’t afraid to combine it up once more with Giannis Antetokounmpo, both. Brown scored down low on Antetokounmpo simply over a minute into the third quarter and gave him the “too low” gesture. The two then exchanged phrases, leading to a technical for Brown.
Brown saved that tenacity in being an offensive chief on the evening. He netted 25 factors on 10-of-21 taking pictures to go together with three assists and three rebounds.
Damian Lillard
The Bucks star is a defensive legal responsibility — the Celtics focused Lillard usually — however he makes up for it on the opposite finish of the court docket. Lillard confirmed why he’s nonetheless one of many premier scorers within the NBA as he poured in 20 of his team-high 31 factors within the first half.
DUDS
Celtics’ second-quarter efficiency
The Celtics don’t have any downside launching 3-pointers even once they aren’t happening. And that’s what occurred to Boston’s detriment within the second quarter. After pulling down 7-of-16 treys within the opening body, the Celtics shot a putrid 0-for-12 from past the arc within the second quarter. Tatum missed all six of his 3-point makes an attempt within the quarter. The poor taking pictures allowed the Bucks to outscore the Celtics, 30-24, within the stanza and take a 57-53 halftime lead.
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Derrick White
The Celtics can normally count on a large contribution from White in showdowns towards high competitors. It by no means got here from White, although. He struggled to seek out his shot as he went an eye-popping 1-for-10 from the sector to attain simply six factors.
Bobby Portis
Somebody wanted to inform the Bucks huge man to cease taking pictures Friday evening. Portis went 2-for-12 from the sector within the first half to change into a black gap in Milwaukee’s offense. It appeared like he received the message within the second half as he solely tried three photographs. Portis did seize a game-high 18 rebounds. He ought to have simply caught to that as a substitute of attempting to tackle the function of a scorer.
