Boston wins the season series over Milwaukee, Celtics win 111-105 against Bucks

Boston wins the season series over Milwaukee, Celtics win 111-105 against Bucks

After a win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, the Celtics continue their four-game homestand tonight in a primetime matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. This is the third and final game of the season series with the Bucks as the Celtics claim victory for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The Bucks have played good basketball since the Celtics last saw them on November 10th, going 9-2 since their last game.

The Bucks have former all-star Khris Middleton making his season debut tonight after missing the first part of the season due to ankle surgery. The Celtics had Kristaps Porzingis out tonight, but Jayson Tatum is back in the lineup after sitting out Wednesday’s game.

Since today was Deuce Tatum’s birthday, it felt fitting that the Celtics began their scoring with a wide-open three-pointer from Jayson Tatum. The Celtics offense faltered early, especially from Jaylen Brown, as the Bucks defense looked confused. Nothing describes the situation better than Brown playing full field defense against Damian Lillard, which resulted in Milwaukee losing the ball.

Khris Middleton came off the bench for Milwaukee and hit his first shot, a three-pointer over Sam Hauser. Milwaukee found its rhythm on offense and tied the game with an 8-0 run, but never took the lead as the Celtics led 29-27 after the first quarter. Jaylen Brown was Boston’s leading scorer throughout the first quarter, scoring 12 points on 5-8 shooting, while Giannis and Lillard led the Bucks with 8 points.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Neemis Queta was the first big man off the bench tonight and made his presence known early when he blasted a fourth-line layup attempt from Lillard. That didn’t change Lillard’s game, however, as he held the Celtics to 12 points on defense from three in the second quarter. Sam Hauser became the Celtics’ focal point after a timeout in Boston when he hit a mid-range jump shot and a layup.

The Celtics’ three balls went cold in the second quarter as they shot 0-12 from three balls in the quarter. This is the first time in 130 regular season quarters that the Celtics have not made a three-pointer in a quarter.

The Bucks took advantage of Boston’s shooting problems and were able to take the lead. Boston realized the three-pointers weren’t working and began attacking the paint to generate points, but Milwaukee took a 57-53 lead at halftime.

Brown (18 points) and Tatum (16 points) combined for 34 points in the first half, but the rest of the team seemed to be struggling. Lillard’s big quarter had him leading the Bucks with 20 points, while Giannis added 14 points of his own. Bobby Portis had a strange stat line in the first half as he grabbed 13 rebounds but shot 2-12 from the field. Payton Pritchard would also have a surprising statistic as he scored 0 points on 0-3 shooting, making one wonder if Doc Rivers really made stopping him a priority. The Bucks and Celtics each finished the first half with seven three-pointers, but Boston shot 7-28 (25%) and Milwaukee shot 7-13 (53.8%).

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The second half began with fireworks between Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brown took a hard hit over Giannis, gave him too little, and Giannis threw his elbow at Brown in response. Brown didn’t like that as he started talking, which resulted in a technical foul.

This increased the intensity of the game as the TD Garden crowd began to boo Giannis every time he touched the ball. Even though Al Horford caught the Celtics and missed three straight goals, Boston continued to struggle behind the arc but managed to go on a 9-2 run.

Both teams continued to trade leads in the third quarter as neither team was able to gain a lead. A disagreement over a foul sent Joe Mazzulla into a rage as both teams huddled around the referees as emotions ran high.

Giannis beat the Celtics in the game as he scored 11 points in the quarters and the Bucks took an 82-78 lead in the fourth quarter. The stars were out tonight as Brown, Tatum, Giannis and Lillard all had over 20 points in three quarters.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Jayson Tatum checked into the fourth quarter and immediately scored seven straight points in the first minute, hitting two three-pointers, including a contested and-1 against Brook Lopez.

Sam Hauser continued his impressive performance against his hometown team by making his fourth three-pointer of the night and scoring 16 points off the bench for Boston.

Giannis arrived with about 7 minutes left and made his presence known as he attacked Hauser under the basket on consecutive possessions, giving the Bucks a 4-point lead with 5:41 left.

With less than five minutes left, Tatum continued to put on a show as on consecutive plays he caught Jrue Holiday rolling out of a double-team and then took Lillard’s miss coast-to-coast three times for a layup.

After Giannis missed a three-pointer, Al Horford caught the ball at the three-point line in transition, rose up and sank a three-pointer to give the Celtics a four-point lead with 1:28 to play.

Giannis made 1-2 free throws on the next possession, and after trading missed threes, Jrue Holiday hit the dagger with a floater as the shot clock expired with 25 seconds left. After a few free throws and a Derrick White steal that led to a Horford basket, the Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 111-105 to complete the season sweep.

Jayson Tatum took over the game in the 4th quarter and finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists on 12-20 shooting from the field and 4-10 from three. Jaylen Brown dropped 25 points and Jrue Holiday returned the favor to Milwaukee with 20 points including a dagger.

The Celtics’ next game is against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, December 7th at 8 p.m. as Boston welcomes old friend Marcus Smart to TD Garden.

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