BOSTON — — Jayson Tatum had 34 factors and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Bucks 111-105 on Friday evening in Khris Middelton’s season debut for Milwaukee.
Jaylen Brown added 25 factors because the Celtics made 17 3-pointers to earn their tenth victory in 11 video games.
Damian Lillard completed with 31 factors for Milwaukee, which has misplaced two straight since profitable a season-best seven in a row. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 30 factors and 11 rebounds on his thirtieth birthday.
Middleton had 11 factors and 5 assists in 23 minutes after lacking the Bucks’ first 21 video games whereas recovering from offseason ankle surgical procedures.
Boston led 107-102 after a floater by Jrue Holiday when Brown was whistled for a foul on a 3-point try by Middleton, who hit all three free throws.
Two free throws by Holiday put Boston forward 109-105. Antetokounmpo then turned it over, resulting in a layup by Al Horford.
Takeaways
Bucks: Middleton’s return marked solely the forty third time that he, Antetokounmpo and Lillard have performed collectively. How properly the not too long ago surging Bucks can combine Middleton might decide their prospects of contending within the East.
Celtics: This was one other assertion win for a group that has overwhelmed the Bucks in all three conferences this season.
Key second
The back-and-forth antics between Antetokounmpo and Brown added one other chapter Friday. Early within the third quarter, Antetokounmpo leaned his shoulder into Brown as Antetokounmpo handed by on his method to throw the ball inbounds. Brown then returned the favor he ran up the courtroom and was whistled for a technical foul. The trade adopted the same incident throughout Boston’s Nov. 10 win at Milwaukee.
Key stat
The sport featured 11 ties and 14 lead adjustments. Neither group led by greater than eight factors.
Up subsequent
The Bucks go to Brooklyn on Sunday. The Celtics host Memphis on Saturday.
——
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
