By Stephen Ur –
The Boston Celtics were on the road on Tuesday night as they faced the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI. This was the second time the top two teams in the Eastern Conference met this season. Boston bested the Bucks 139-118 on Christmas Day.
THIS would’ve been a matchup of two of the league’s top 10 scorers as Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo ranked third in the NBA coming into this game at 32.4 points per game. Jayson Tatum was sixth in the league, averaging 30.5 points per game. Unfortunately, Tatum was ruled out for the game.
The Celtics got off to a hot start, outscoring the Bucks 35-27 in the first quarter. Milwaukee came back with an even stronger second quarter, outscoring Boston 37-28. It was a story of the same in the second half as the Celtics outscored the Bucks 32-26 in the third, but in turn, the Bucks outscored the Celtics 26-21 in the fourth.
With just three seconds left in regulation and down 116-113, Sam Hauser connected on a three that sent the game into overtime tied at 116. The Celtics scored the first five points in overtime, but a three from Jrue Holiday gave Milwaukee the lead, one they would never give up as they went on to win 131-125.
Despite the loss, all five of the Celtics’ starters scored in double figures. Derrick White led the way for Boston with 27 points on 10 of 24 shooting from the floor. Malcolm Brogdon scored 26 points coming off the bench, as well.
Holiday, who scored the go-ahead three in overtime, scored a game-high 40 points for Milwaukee on 13 of 21 shooting from the field and 8 of 12 from three. He also went a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line. Giannis scored 36 and added 13 rebounds.
With the loss, the Celtics now lead the Bucks by just half a game in the Eastern Conference. They will head back to Boston for their final game before the All-Star Break tomorrow night against the Detroit Pistons. The Bucks will have off tomorrow before their final game before the break in Chicago against the Bulls.
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