JUST IN: What Stood Out as Celtics Fended Off Bucks’ Final Frame Rally

Despite the absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Milwaukee Bucks’ game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, Jaylen Brown, who was earlier deemed questionable due to a right ankle sprain, was cleared to play.

Nevertheless, Sam Hauser and former Buck Jrue Holiday were not there for the hosts of this match at TD Garden. However, the six-foot-eight sniper warmed up on the court beforehand. It is likely that he will return.

Jayson Tatum got right to work, scoring ten points in the opening five minutes of an Eastern Conference matchup between the top two teams, despite a ten-game difference between them.

The Celtics established a double-digit lead thanks to that, their capacity to guard the paint, and smart substitutions that helped slow down Milwaukee after a scorching start from beyond the arc.

However, Tatum’s benching caused the offense to stagnate. Nevertheless, the defense held true even when producing buckets became more difficult. Xavier Tillman guarded Brook Lopez as Kristaps Porzingis was on Jae Crowder in the double-big lineup the hosts used.

By matching up in that manner, the latter was able to defend the pick-and-roll more actively. In addition to contesting a miss off the drive that clanged off the backboard and blocking the passing lane on a failed attempt to get the ball back to Damian Lillard, the former Michigan State Spartan also challenged shots and ran Malik Beasley off the three-point line, which allowed Derrick White to steal the ball and score two points on a breakaway.
With 11 points and 4 assists at the end of the first quarter, the former Colorado Buffalo led all players in both categories. Tatum led Boston to a 33-28 lead heading into the second quarter with ten points, which was the second-highest total in the first twelve minutes.

The C’s have scored at least 30 points in the first quarter of at least 15 of the last 16 games, according to Dick Lipe of NBC Sports Boston.

Payton Pritchard’s narrative took center stage in the second frame.

In the quarter, the fourth-year guard made 4/5 of his shots, playing a little trick on Danilo Gallinari before launching a three-pointer from the right corner.
In addition, he contributed significantly to team and on-ball defense by using pressure and smart switches to neutralize the Bucks’ possible advantages. And it infuriated the TD Garden crowd when he lunged in to steal an offensive rebound from Lopez.
Pritchard had 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists going into the half.

Boston also had the advantage at halftime, leading 69-56, thanks to forcing nine turnovers, turning them into 11 points, and only giving up three baskets.

At the half, Tatum had scored 23 points on 8 of 13 shots, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.
With 13 points apiece, Lillard and Khris Middleton led the visiting team in the opening 24 minutes.

The Celtics continued to take advantage of Milwaukee’s disjointed defense in the third quarter, particularly when they dialed up pick-and-pops to exploit drop coverage that opened up the screener for threes.
Additionally, Jaylen Brown tore apart the opposition’s defense, easily handling Middleton on a baseline drive to the basket.
In the frame, the 2022 All-NBA Second Team lineup scored 11 points.

Tatum played 7:05 in the period, but instead of forcing the issue, he didn’t try a shot during that time. Even though it’s extreme, it shows how unselfish he is and how willing he is to always make the correct decision, no matter what.

Boston led 101-83 going into the last 12 minutes, despite the former Duke Blue Devil not contributing to the score. His teammates made 5/10 threes, shot 45.5 percent from the field, and scored 32 points.

The Bucks were within ten points many times in the fourth quarter thanks to cold shooting, which included a miss by Kristaps Porzingis that dropped him to 5/14, including 0/4 from three-point range, and Tatum missing on his first four attempts.

Derrick White’s classic three-point play, which had him patiently holding the ball in his hands from the paint’s edge before attacking and using an up-fake to create an opportunity and earn a foul before scoring through contact, enabled the hosts to keep Milwaukee at bay.
White’s three-point attempt also failed after a soft offensive foul negated what could have been an old-fashioned three-point play, this time for Al Horford. With less than 6:30 remaining, the former Florida Gator would have gone to the line and had a chance to put his side ahead by sixteen if the officials had made a different decision.

Rather, Lillard made a three-pointer to keep the visitors within 10. It was vital for a faltering offense that White responded to his make with one on the other end.

Not helping either was a technical on Tatum and Brown going 0/2 from the stripe with 3:05 left and the Bucks within six, 110-104.

With 2:56 remaining, a basket by left wing Bobby Portis cut the advantage to 110-107, but two free throws by Tatum—who then drove to the hoop for a layup from the left side of the cylinder—brought Boston’s lead to 114-107 with 1:38 remaining.

With 1:12 remaining, the hosts led 116-109 after to a decisive two-handed flush from Porzingis after the star wing of the Celtics missed a one-legged fadeaway.

With Antetokounmpo not playing, it appeared that might be sufficient cushioning to get the C’s across the finish line. However, with 32 seconds left, Portis finished through contact to give the Bucks an opportunity to close the gap following another three from Lillard and a missed layup by White.

But he failed to capitalize. Brown, on the other hand, found atonement when he made both of his free throws on his most recent opportunity to step to the line under duress.

With 20.1 seconds remaining, Boston had a 118-114 lead after converting those crucial possessions.

The hosts needed those free throws to put the finishing touches on their triumph on Wednesday.