4 things we learnt from Boston's 111-105 win over Milwaukee Looking back at key takeaways from the Friday night Eastern Conference clash at TD Garden.
Game recap
The Boston Celtics secured a hard-fought victory against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, completing a season sweep of their conference rival.
Jayson Tatum led the charge with 34 points, including a clutch 14-point performance in the fourth quarter to clinch the 111-105 win. Jaylen Brown added 25 points in an impressive outing, which featured another intense exchange with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Damian Lillard led the Bucks with 31 points in their loss, marking their second consecutive defeat after a season-best seven-game winning streak. Antetokounmpo contributed a strong double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds, coinciding with his 30th birthday.
Khris Middleton, returning to the lineup after missing the Bucks' first 21 games due to offseason ankle surgeries, added 11 points and five assists in 23 minutes, gradually reintegrating into the team's rotation.
Despite their efforts, the Bucks couldn't overcome the Celtics' late-game surge.
Tatum and Brown remain formidable
The league's premier duo combined for 59 points on the night and were a combined +19 when together on the court. With much debate over which duo is the best in the league, their performance tonight solidifies their argument of being number 1.
Tatum in particular was pivotal tonight in a closely contested game featuring 11 ties and 14 lead changes. On top of his 34 points he hauled in 10 rebounds and dished 5 dimes while shooting an efficient 12-of-20 from the field.
With the game seemingly getting away from the Celtics, Tatum-time ensued at the start of the 4th with a seven-point barrage in just the first 34 seconds of the final quarter. Both Tatum and Brown were big down the stretch as the Celtics closed out the game with a decisive 12-3 run to secure the win.
Celtics fuelled by Bucks fire
Over the course of the previous two games between the sides, bad blood has been brewing, particularly between 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Brown even referred to Giannis as a "child" following the previous matchup, setting the stage for Friday's heated exchange. Brown added a spark to the Celtics' rivalry with the Bucks with a bold "too small" gesture directed at Antetokounmpo.
The taunt came after Brown made a difficult shot over the two-time MVP, intensifying the competitive edge in an already tense environment.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazulla said after the game that the dust up between the two "unlocked Jaylen."
Celtics bench still delivering
In a game where 6th man of the year front-runner Payton Pritchard went scoreless the C's bench still came up big. Pritchard, who is averaging almost 16 a night on 48% shooting, was off the pace.
Up stepped deep range sniper Sam Hauser who scored 16 points while knocking down four from beyond the arc.
The Celtics, who are known for their strength in depth, had to rely heavily on Hauser, especially in the non-Tatum/Brown minutes.
Al Horford still has it
While only scoring eight points, Horford was a menace defensively, particularly while guarding Antetokounmpo. The 38-year-old guarded the Greek Freak on 45 possessions and held him to just 11 points on 5-15 shooting (33%).
Granted, Antetokounmpo played well, but Horford's defensive prowess was evident which Giannis actively looking to switch onto a different defender.
The 17-year veteran and former Florida Gator is proving night-in night-out why the Celtics acquired him for the second time in 2021.