Jayson Tatum delivered an impressive performance, tallying 31 points and eight rebounds, propelling the Boston Celtics to their seventh consecutive victory with a 122-119 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
Derrick White contributed 23 points and eight assists for Boston (55-14), while the team showcased its shooting prowess by sinking 18 of 40 attempts from beyond the arc. Jaylen Brown chipped in 21 points, and Payton Pritchard provided a spark off the bench with 19 points, including hitting 5 of 8 three-poиnters.
Despite trailing 116-114 late in the game, the Bucks (44-25) couldn’t complete the comeback, as Boston’s defense held firm. The Celtics sealed the win with free throws from Brown, extending their home winning streak to 10 games and improving their home record to an impressive 32-3.
Damian Lillard led the scoring for Milwaukee with 32 points, supported by Bobby Portis’ double-double performance of 24 points and 15 rebounds. Khris Middleton contributed 22 points to the Bucks’ effort.
Milwaukee’s star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, missed his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury, leaving a significant void in the Bucks’ lineup. Meanwhile, the Celtics were without starting guard Jrue Holiday, sidelined with a shoulder injury, and Sam Hauser, who remained out with a sprained left ankle suffered in a previous game.
Boston asserted its dominance early, establishing a 33-28 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 69-56 by halftime behind Tatum’s 23 first-half points. Despite a brief rally from the Bucks in the third quarter, the Celtics maintained control, securing a comfortable lead heading into the final period, ultimately securing the hard-fought victory.