The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Boston Celtics 122-103 on Monday night at TD Garden, extending their winning streak to six games and improving their record to 11-4. The Bucks led by as many as 29 points in the fourth quarter, as they dominated the Celtics in every aspect of the game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the way for the Bucks
The reigning MVP had another stellar performance, scoring 34 points on 14-of-20 shooting, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out five assists. He also had two blocks and two steals, as he was a force on both ends of the floor. Antetokounmpo was unstoppable in the paint, as he scored 24 of his points in the restricted area and made 10 of his 11 free throws. He also hit two 3-pointers, showing his improved range.
Antetokounmpo was supported by his teammates, who also shot the ball well and played solid defense. Khris Middleton had 19 points and six assists, while Jrue Holiday added 18 points and seven assists. Bobby Portis, who returned from a knee injury, chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. The Bucks shot 52.4 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from beyond the arc, while holding the Celtics to 42.9 percent and 30.8 percent, respectively.
The Celtics struggle without their stars
The Celtics were missing three of their starters, as Jaylen Brown (face), Jayson Tatum (illness), and Marcus Smart (ankle) were all sidelined. Al Horford (knee) and Robert Williams III (knee) were also questionable, but they played and started the game. However, they could not make up for the absence of their key players, as they were outmatched by the Bucks from the start.
The Celtics trailed by 14 points at halftime, and never got closer than 10 points in the second half. They were outrebounded 51-38, outscored 58-42 in the paint, and out assisted 30-21. They also committed 16 turnovers, which led to 23 points for the Bucks.
The only bright spot for the Celtics was the play of Dennis Schroder, who had a season-high 38 points on 16-of-27 shooting. He also had six rebounds and four assists, as he tried to keep his team in the game. However, he did not get much help from his teammates, as no other Celtic scored more than 12 points. The Celtics fell to 11-4 and lost their second straight game.
What’s next for both teams?
The Bucks will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals. The Bucks won the title in six games and will try to repeat their success against the Suns, who have won 11 straight games and have the best record in the league.
The Celtics will try to bounce back when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, in the second game of a four-game road trip. The Celtics beat the Hornets 140-129 in overtime on Nov. 15, behind 41 points from Tatum and 28 points from Brown. The Hornets have lost four of their last five games, and are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference.
