BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 31 factors on Wednesday evening to assist the Boston Celtics win their seventh sport…
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 31 factors on Wednesday evening to assist the Boston Celtics win their seventh sport in a row, profiting from the absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 122-119.
Payton Pritchard added 19 factors and 6 rebounds off the bench for Boston, scoring 10 factors within the second quarter — as many as Milwaukee had as a staff. He additionally grabbed 4 rebounds within the second, together with an offensive board he took away from Brook Lopez, a participant a full foot taller.
Derrick White had 23 factors and eight assists, whereas Jaylen Brown completed with 21 factors and eight boards for Boston.
Damian Lillard scored 32, together with a 3-pointer within the ultimate second. Bobby Portis had 24 factors and 15 rebounds for the Bucks, who had gained two in a row.
Though the sport was a matchup of Jap Convention division leaders, the Celtics maintain an 11-game edge over the second-seeded Bucks within the race for home-court benefit. Some other juice within the potential playoff preview was misplaced when Antetokounmpo was dominated out for the second straight sport with a left hamstring downside.
It was 10-all when the Celtics scored 13 of the following 15 factors to open an 11-point lead. The Bucks minimize it to 2 earlier than the tip of the primary quarter, however Boston used a 21-8 run – with 10 factors coming from Pritchard — to make it an 18-point lead within the second.
Doubtless irked by a “too small” gesture from Milwaukee’s Patrick Beverley, Pritchard additionally had essentially the most assists (three) and rebounds (4) within the quarter, together with one board that he swiped from Lopez. Annoyed, the 7-foot-1 middle pushed him away in disgust.
Pritchard celebrated by flexing his muscle tissues and slapping arms with Kristaps Porzingis; Tatum waved his arms to encourage the gang, which rose to provide the 6-1 level guard a standing ovation.
Boston led by as many as 21 factors however the Bucks didn’t get inside single digits till the ultimate minutes, after they scored 10 straight factors — eight of them, together with back-to-back lengthy 3-pointers, from Portis — to show a 13-point lead right into a one-possession sport.
However Portis missed a 3, Tatum hit a pair of free throws after which the Celtics star drove for a layup to make it 114-107 with 1:38 to play.
Antetokounmpo additionally missed the Bucks’ 140-129 dwelling victory over Phoenix on Sunday. He has missed 5 video games this season; Milwaukee is 3-2 with out him.
The Greek star, 29, ranks third within the NBA in scoring (30.8), sixth in rebounding (11.2) and fifteenth in assists (6.4) this season.
UP NEXT
Bucks: Host Brooklyn on Thursday evening.
Celtics: At Detroit on Friday evening.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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