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Tim Bontemps, ESPN
BOSTON — For a 3rd straight time this season, the Milwaukee Bucks discovered themselves in a aggressive recreation with the Boston Celtics.
And, for a 3rd straight time, it was the defending champions who made sufficient performs down the stretch, this time for a 111-105 victory in entrance of a raucous sellout crowd at TD Garden that accomplished a 3-0 sweep of the season collection.
“We take that proper now we’re within the recreation with them, however we have not crushed them and we do consider we now have a giant stretch that we will get higher,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated. “We’re going to get so much higher, and they’re going to too a bit bit, however we are going to so much.
“So, yeah, we hope to play them once more within the playoffs within the late rounds, and we’ll see the way it goes. But proper now they’re the champs, and till somebody beats them, they’re the champs.”
It would have been straightforward to mistake this recreation for one in April or May. There was nice depth on the courtroom and within the stands, and the officers allowed physicality all through. Despite that, the groups mixed for 15 turnovers, and the celebrities on each side — Jayson Tatum (34 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) and Jaylen Brown (25 factors) for Boston, and Giannis Antetokounmpo (30 factors and 11 rebounds) and Damian Lillard (31 factors) for Milwaukee — all made huge contributions.
The Celtics did not have Kristaps Porzingis (damage administration forward of a recreation Saturday right here towards the Memphis Grizzlies), and Derrick White (1-for-10, 0-for-8 from 3) and Payton Pritchard (scoreless in 24 minutes) had arguably their worst video games of the season. Boston additionally did not get a single second-chance level (11-0 in favor of Milwaukee).
But it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient to tip the size within the Bucks’ favor.
“It wasn’t a playoff recreation, however it was a particular evening,” Tatum stated. “This is my eighth yr, and these nights the place you are taking part in a group that is actually good with some particular gamers, and the group is actually concerned, and guys are making performs and feeding off the vitality of your teammates and of the group and the followers, the quantity of occasions that we have received video games in moments like that.
“It’s simply one other particular evening at TD Garden that I’ve been part of.”
If there was any doubt concerning the evening’s depth, it was on show within the third quarter, when Al Horford’s spouse, Amelia, bought up from her front-row seat and exhorted the group to cheer louder when Antetokounmpo was on the foul line.
“Yes, no query,” Horford instantly stated, when requested if it feels totally different to play the Bucks. “There are sure groups that it simply does, and we have been since JT’s rookie yr, we went to seven towards these guys.
“Year after yr, each groups have had numerous success within the East, and it’s totally different, each time we play them, and that is simply the truth.”
During massive parts of Friday’s recreation, it appeared as if the Bucks lastly may need the higher hand. Boston struggled to get going offensively from deep, lacking 15 consecutive 3-pointers from late within the first quarter to early within the third. And Antetokounmpo repeatedly battered his strategy to the rim, shedding defenders left and proper, whereas Lillard — regardless of not getting a couple of continuation calls he would’ve needed — nonetheless had success attacking Boston’s protection.
And but, with 90 seconds to go, Antetokounmpo discovered himself on the left wing and, when Horford backed off him, determined to step into his first 3-point attempt of the evening. But he missed, and a fast Horford response on the different finish gave Boston a four-point lead it by no means relinquished.
“Coming down, I noticed Al Horford backing up,” Antetokounmpo stated. “I felt like I may make it. Shot it. Went properly, in my view. S—, if I had the possibility to shoot it once more, I’d shoot it once more. I’ve made it a number of occasions, so I’d shoot it once more.”
Perhaps that likelihood will come within the playoffs, the following time these groups may meet. The Bucks have been 2-8 after they misplaced to the Celtics in Milwaukee a couple of weeks in the past however have since clawed their approach again to .500 by profitable 9 of the 11 intervening video games.
Now, the query is how rather more they’ll proceed to enhance between now and a possible rematch.
“I’m not going to speak about ethical victories and every thing, however they’re an amazing group,” stated Bucks ahead Khris Middleton, who got here off the bench and had 11 factors on 2-for-10 capturing in 23 minutes in his season debut. “We wish to get again to the place they have been final yr, they usually’re making an attempt to get again to the place they have been final yr, additionally. So it is nearly placing our greatest foot earlier than and making an attempt to be the most effective group. I’m not fearful about the rest, actually.”
