Boston Sweeps the Season Series Over Milwaukee, Celtics win 111-105 vs Bucks

Following a victory against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, the Celtics are set to continue their 4-game home stand tonight in a prime-time matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. This game marks the third and final meeting of the season between the Celtics and the Bucks, with the Celtics aiming for a sweep for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The Bucks have been on a strong run since their last encounter with the Celtics on November 10th, going 9-2 in their recent games.

The Bucks will have former all-star Khris Middleton making his season debut tonight after recovering from ankle surgery, while the Celtics will be missing Kristaps Porzingis but will have Jayson Tatum back in the lineup after sitting out Wednesday’s game.

On Deuce Tatum’s birthday, the Celtics began their scoring with a wide-open three from Jayson Tatum. The team’s offense started strong, particularly with Jaylen Brown shining, causing havoc for the Bucks’ defense. A memorable moment was Brown playing full-court defense against Damian Lillard, resulting in a turnover for Milwaukee.

Khris Middleton came off the bench for the Bucks and made his mark with an and-1 three-pointer over Sam Hauser. Milwaukee managed to tie the game with an 8-0 run but never took the lead, with the Celtics leading 29-27 after the first quarter. Jaylen Brown led the scoring for Boston with 12 points, while Giannis and Lillard led the Bucks with 8 points each.

Neemis Queta made an early impact off the bench by swatting a Lillard layup attempt into the stands. Lillard, however, responded by scoring 12 points in the second quarter, showcasing his scoring prowess from deep and inside. Sam Hauser stepped up for the Celtics with a mid-range jumper and a driving layup.

The Celtics struggled from the three-point line in the second quarter, going 0-12, marking the first time in 130 regular season quarters that they failed to make a three in a quarter.

Taking advantage of Boston’s shooting struggles, the Bucks surged ahead to take the lead. Boston adjusted by attacking the paint for points, but the Bucks held a 57-53 lead at halftime.

In the first half, Brown and Tatum combined for 34 points, but the rest of the Celtics team faced challenges. Lillard led the Bucks in scoring with 20 points, while Giannis contributed 14 points. Bobby Portis had an unusual stat line, grabbing 13 rebounds but shooting 2-12 from the field. Payton Pritchard also had a surprising performance, scoring 0 points on 0-3 shooting.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The second half started with a heated exchange between Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo, culminating in a technical foul for Brown. The intensity of the game escalated, with the crowd showing displeasure towards Giannis whenever he had the ball. Al Horford ended the Celtics’ three-point drought but the team continued to struggle from long range. However, a 9-2 run helped the Celtics stay competitive.

Both teams exchanged the lead throughout the third quarter, with tensions rising over foul calls, prompting emotional reactions from players and coaches.

Giannis dominated in the paint, scoring 11 points in the quarter, as the Bucks took an 82-78 lead into the fourth quarter. Brown, Tatum, Giannis, and Lillard all had over 20 points through three quarters.

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