Boston Celtics 140 vs 99 Milwaukee Bucks summary: stats and highlights | NBA
The Boston Celtics sent a warning shot to the league leading Bucks and the rest of the league with a 41 point blowout win in Milwaukee. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown put up a combined 70 points in three quarters in the 140-99 victory.
Brown blazing off the block
The Milwaukee Bucks were on a second night of a back to back after beating the Pacers in a shootout in Indiana. That kept them three games up on the Celtics coming into the game, but Joe Mazzula’s men looked like a team that had full intentions on taking the one seed from the Bucks in the final stretch of the season.
The game actually got started with both teams exchanging blows from the get go. There were four ties and six lead changes in the first eight minutes of the game, but that would not be an indication of what was to come at Fiserv Forum.
Boston took command of the game by the end of the first quarter, as Jaylen Brown got off the block hot scoring 10 straight points and 17 overall in the opening 12 minutes. Milwaukee was still in the game to start the second quarter, trailing by just eight but that’s when Jayson Tatum took over the game. He started the quarter with two threes and went on to score nine more points before the half.
Boston duo outscored Bucks for almost three quarters
During Tatum’s hot streak the Bucks missed 10 straight shots which allowed the C’s to build up a 22 point advantage. The lead would get up to 30 in the first half and the game was already out of hand for a Milwaukee team that looked warn out after playing in Indiana the night before.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points through the first half, but the Celtics never let him get comfortable, and him having a tough night meant the Bucks had a tough night. The Greek ended the night with 24 as the Bucks knew they were defeated before the first half was up. They hit just 3/21 threes in the first half as the Celtics drained 12/23 from downtown to help stretch the lead out going into the halftime break.
The game was over to start the second half, but Boston kept Tatum and Brown on the floor until the end of the third quarter. Just before end of the quarter, the tandem had 70 points, and Milwaukee had just 69 total.
Playoff clash coming?
The starters for both teams sat the fourth quarter and the Celtics built the lead all the way up to 49 before finally closing out Milwaukee by 41. The question after this game should be, will this game have a lasting affect on this series if these two teams meet in the postseason?
After Boston’s blowout win, they sit two games behind the Bucks with a week and half to go in the regular season. Either way, the two teams are destined to be one and two in the East, and have a good chance of seeing each other again in the playoffs.
Tatum and Brown had 70 points at the end of the third quarter. A minute before the quarter ended they had 70 points and the Bucks had just 69.
After putting up 22 in the first half, Tatum came out of the break and put up another 18 before being pulled for the final 12 minutes of the game.
The Celtics sent warning shots to Milwaukee and the rest of the league with this blowout win tonight as Brown finished with 30 in three quarters.
Brown got going early, but in the second quarter it was Tatum stepping up and taking control. He had 15 in the quarter and 22 in the first half.
Giannis had 20 at the half, but Boston never let him get into a groove, which means the Bucks never got into a groove.
The Celtics got embarrassed in Washington, but Jaylen Brown made sure there would be no repeat in Milwaukee with a hot start. He had 17 in the first quarter.
Dragic picks up the loose ball, and lobs it up for the Connaughton alley oop!
That is how it's going to end here in Milwaukee, although it's been over since the second quarter.
Dragic with another three ball! He's been about the only one who has had a good game for Milwaukee tonight.
Williams drains a three to add insult to injury!
Thanasis just got kicked out of the game after headbutting Griffin. Griffin was whistled for a flagrant foul and Giannis' brother reacted.
Carter hits both, and Griffien hits one of two after the double flagrant.
Dragic gets a couple more threes to drop, with a Kornet dunk sandwiched in between.
Griffin punches back with a three of his own!
Connaughton nails the three at the top of the key.
Wiliams diving down the right side of the lane and gets the lay up to fall.
Thanasis at the line and he hits one of two FTs.
Williams to the line after the foul on Giannis' brother and he hits one of two.
Beauchamp nails a three ball off the assist from Connaughton.
White with another three ball, and he's taking advantage of this opportunity to pad his stats.
Kornet on the tip slam after the missed lay up by Brogdon.
White drills the three ball, and I said before all the Celtics starters were on the bench, but Mazzula is keeping White on the floor for now at least.
Carter drills a catch and shoot three from the top of the key!
White at the line and he hits both FTs after the Carter foul.
Wililams at the line and he hits one of two FTs after the Crowder foul.
Hauser off the bench and hits a three ball. Both teams have cleared their starters off the floor for the final 12 minutes.
Matthews starts the fourth quarter with a catch and release jumper.
The third quarter is all over and the lead almost got up to 50 after the halftime break.
Tatum and Brown had 70 points and the Bucks has 69 as a team at one point. They end the quarter with 70, and the Bucks finished with 74.
Connaughton drills a three ball in the corner, and that's runing the stat that I wanted to give you at halftime.
Matthews with a fade away over Wililams in the lane.
Tatum goes right down main street hand finishes with a slam!!!
Portis gets another three ball, and if there is one guy that won't quit tonight, it's Portis!
Brown back to the lane, and he gets the lay up to go.
Portis hangs one high off the glass on the drive to the right side.
Tatum drops back to back three balls!!! He's got 38 points and eight triples tonight!!!
Portis drills the three ball off the assist from Crowder!
Brogdon going into the heart of the defense and getting the floater to go.
Brown on the Eurostep down the lane and the lead is up to 39!!!
What we are witnessing right now is incredible! Will this have a lasting affect on the Bucks heading into the post season?
Timeout Bucks with 4:24 to go in the third.
Tatum drills it in the face of Ingles in the corner!
Tatum with an easy slam after Brogdon gets the rebound and released his star.
Brown on the backdoor cut, and Smart hit him for the baseline jam!
Timeout Bucks with 5:45 to go in the third quarter.
Lopez with a deep floater from behind the FT line.
Brown continues to add on to his impressive night with a pull up mid range jumper.
Holiday jacks up a three ball and he sticks it from the top of the key!
Brown dashes across the lane and gets the scoop lay up to go over Lopez.
Allen strokes a three from the top of the key after Middleton went to the locker room with a bloody mouth.
Tatum drops another three ball and he's got 27 tonight!!!
Middleton got T'd up after his lay up got blocked by Smart, and Tatum going to the line and hits the FT.
Giannis gets into the paint and drops the lay up.
Smart pull up from three point range and drills it!
Middleton with a deep two, and he's got 13.
Smart slashes down the lane and finishes off the crystal.
Giannis has his work cut out for him, and starts it off with the spin on the baseline and the finger roll.
Horford start the second half with a tip in off the Brown miss and the lead is back to 30.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FOR THE SECOND HALF FROM MILWAUKEE!
Brogdon has 10 off the bench to go along with Tatum and Brown's 42 total points. Horford has 4 of the 12 Celtics three in the first half.
Tatum had two quick threes to start the second quarter, and put up 15 of his 22 in that 12 minutes.
When you're getting blown out by 28 at half, you don't get anything highlights during the break. So here is a Celtics compilation of highlights. Brown got the Celtics going and set the tone early on.
It's halftime here from Fiserv Forum, and the Bucks are getting blown out!
Tatum and Brown have been incredible, and the Celtics are smoking hot from three point range!! Brown started off with 17 points int he first quarter, and Tatum has 22, 15 in the second quarter.
Giannis has 20, but Boston is not making anything easy for him.
Giannis ends the first half with a lay up after gliding to the lane, and the Bucks go into the break down 28!
Tatum at the line after the foul on Giannis and he hits both FTs.
Tatum with a three ball to keep the lead at 30!
Giannis gets the bucket and the foul! FT is good after the Horford foul.
Horford drills the three after the Brogdon kick out!!! The Boston lead is 30!!!
Brogdon at the line and he hits both FTs after the Crowder foul with 1:30 to go.
Giannis hits it from the FT line, he's got 13 on the night.
Brogdon saw Ingles fall, and went straight to the rack for the slam.
Brogdon puts it on the deck and lay it up with the left hand high off the glass!
Giannis gets the tip in down under the basket after the missed Ingles jumper.
Horford drills another three ball for Boston, and the lead is out to 25!!! They are 10/20 from downtown tonight!
Timeout Celtics with 2:52 to go in the first half.
Portis gets the tip in to fall off the Giannis miss.
Brown soars for the slam off the Smart assist! The Boston lead is 26 in Milwaukee!
Giannis getting to the iron and he hits another tough shot in traffic.
Brogdon going at all the Bucks defenders on a 1 on 5 and gets the lay up to go.
R, Williams on the tip in off the missed jumper from Smart.
Portis on the tip in off the Middleton miss, and they finally get a field goal after 10 straight misses.
Brown to the line after the Middleton foul. He goes to the line and hits one of two for his first points of the second half.
Tatum fouled on the rebound and tip in attempt and he hits both FTs. He's got 10 in the quarter, and 17 on the night.
Smart puts it on the deck and blew by Lopez on the mismatch and he gets the lay up to go off the glass.
Horford comes out of the timeout and drills a three after a couple of empty possessions from Milwaukee and the lead it 17!!!
Matthew bails out the C's by fouling Tatum on a long two as the shot clock was winding down. Both FTs are good and the Bucks will take a timeout down 14.
It's Tatum again from downtown again!! He's got 13 points after a hot start in the second quarter.
MIddleton gets R. Williams up in the air, and draws the foul. He goest to the line and hits both FTs.
Tatum drills a three ball and he's got double digits early in the second quarter.
Giannis muscles his way to the bucket and gets the contested bucket to go in the lane.
R. Wiliams starts the second with a jam down the baseline!
Brown got hot in the first quarter, and had 10 straight points for the Celtics. He finished with 17 points, Tatum had 7 to put the C's up by 8.
Carter pull up for three after coming off the bench and splashes the triple try!
Middleton puts it on the deck and gets a finger roll at the iron! He's got 9 quick points.
Tatum dancing to the lane and tucks the ball to shake off defenders to get to the cup for a lay up.
Brogdon driving down the left side and finishes with his right hand!
Giannis with a huge block and Carter pulls up for three after coming off the bench and splashes the triple try!
Brown drives baseline, dumps it off, and finds R. Williams for the lay up down low.
Celtics want a timeout with 2:38 to go in the opening quarter.
Brogdon picks off Lopez and finds Brown cherry picking for a dunk and his 17th point!
Brown strokes another three ball, and he's got 15 first quarter points with 3:30 to go before the break.
Lob up top from Holiday to Lopez who slams down the alley oop!
Brown is scorching hot coming out of the gate, and he's got an early 12!
Lopez gets fouled by G. Wililams, and he hits both FTs.
Brown picks up his dribble and fades over Middlleton from the elbow to tie the game up yet again!
MIddleton comes out of the timeout and hits the fadeaway jumper from the wing.
We're going to the break after seeing four ties and six lead changes in the first 7:30 of the game.
Tatum corkscrews in the lane and gets the lay up to go!
Middleton drills a long distance ball over Horford, and he's got a quick 5.
Brown gets the rebound of the Giannis missed FT, and he goes coast to coast for the finger roll.
Giannis going to the line for the first time, and he hits one of two after the foul on Smart.
Giannis pulls up and hits the mid range jumper.
Brown streaking to the rack and finishing with authority after the dish from Smart.
Giannis on the board for the first time, and he ties the game up with his first bucket of the night.
Horford begins his night with a three ball, as we so often see him do to start the game.
MIddleton gets into the mix in this high scoring start with a pull up from the elbow.
Smart drops a triple and that's two quick ones for Boston!
Lopez shaking off defenders down low and getting a bucket underneath!
Brown punches back with a three ball to start his night!
Holiday picks up where he left off last night, with a pull up three ball!
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM MILWAUKEE! TWO OF THE LEAGUE'S TOP TEAMS TIP OFF NOW!
C's first five
For my money this is the best starting five in the game right now. You have one of the most potent pairs in the league in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, with Al Horford’s experience, Marcus Smarts defense and Derricks White’s X factor, the Celtics are have as dynamic a first five as you can get.
What doesn't this starting five have for the Bucks. Giannis is Giannis. Jrue is coming off a career high night. Brook Lopez is one of the best defenders in the league, and Middleton is always money from the field.
Season series split
After beating the Bucks in six games in last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Celtics won the opening matchup between these two teams on Christmas Day. Tatum went for 41, and Brown added another 29 as the Boston duo scored more than half of their teams points in the 139-118 at the Garden. Giannis and Jrue Holiday got their revenge on Valentines Day at the Fiserv Forum. Holiday led his team with 40 points, and Giannis had 36 points, 13 rebs, and 9 assists in a game that went to OT. Tonight the winner will take the tie break, and that could be vital come the end of the regular season.
Outlook in the East
Taking a look at the Eastern Conference Standings we see these two in a dead sprint for the top spot in the East. Right now, it looks as though it will be Giannis and the Bucks who will earn home court throughout the playoffs, but a Boston win tonight could make things awfully interesting int he final week and a half of the season. If the C’s lose, they would be in jeopardy of losing hold of the two seed with the Sixers waiting to pounce in third. These two teams have their playoff futures locked up but every remaining game will be instrumental in getting the one seed, especially this one tonight.
Tatum hoping to flatten Fiserv
Jayson Tatum has been in MVP form all season. Having said that, he most likely won’t win it with Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid seemingly locked in a two horse race, but Tatum has been responsible for the Celtics success for the last few seasons. He could go out and put up 40 on any given night, but he doesn’t have to. His supporting cast is good enough it eases the weight put on their superstars shoulders. Tonight he goes head to head with another MVP candidate, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis returns eyeing top seed
The Bucks return home after a four game road trip, and have a chance to practically close the door on the Celtics hopes of a number one seed. Giannis knows that if they can take care of business tonight, this Fiserv Forum fan base will be seeing plenty more of him throughout the playoffs
Boston blunder in DC
The C’s suffered a shocking loss to the short handed Washington Wizards on Monday night. It wasn’t the performance we have grown to expect from a team with such lofty expectations. Boston led 13-10, but that would be the last time they were in the advantage as the Wizards stretched out the lead to as many as 23 in the second half. Kristaps Porzingis led the Wizards with 32 points and Deni Avdija had another 25 as Jayson Tatum’s 28 wasn’t enough to push the Celtics past Washington in the nation’s capital.
Milwaukee's last game
The Bucks gave one of the performances of the season last night in Indiana when they put up an outrageous 149 points in a shootout with the Pacers. Jrue Holiday set a career high with 51 points and Giannia Antetokounmpo posted a 38 points triple double as the Bucks continued as the pace setters for the rest of the NBA. Indiana hung close with Miwaukee, but a 46 point third quarter allowed the Bucks to break free and close the game out comfortably.
We are live from Fiserv
Hello everyone and welcome to Milwaukee where the Bucks are coming into the second end of a back to back series after blowing out the Indiana Pacers last night. Giannis and company have looked like the best team in the league for the last few months and tonight they can back that claim up tonight with a win over the Celtics. Boston needs a bounce back win after dropping a disappointing loss to the Wizards if they want any chance at the top seed in the East.
Celtics vs. Bucks
We have a potential preview of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight from Milwaukee as the two top teams go toe-to-toe in a late season battle that could decide who gets the top seed going into the playoffs. The Bucks host the Boston Celtics tonight from Fiserv Forum, and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s can’t miss matchup.