BOSTON — There was a second through the Celtics’ series-opening loss to the Bucks when it appeared as if Jaylen Brown would by no means make a shot.
Early in Recreation 2, it felt like he may not miss.
Brown scored 25 of his 30 factors within the first half, and Boston beat Milwaukee 109-86 on Tuesday night time to even the Japanese Convention semifinals at one recreation apiece.
“It’s the playoffs. That’s it,” Brown mentioned. “We will’t let one recreation sort of dictate how this collection goes. We needed to be aggressive from the gate.”
Brown shook off a dismal capturing night time in Recreation 1, going 9 for 10 within the first half, together with 5 for five from the 3-point line. Jayson Tatum added 19 factors and eight assists. Grant Williams completed with 21 factors. Al Horford had 14 factors and 11 rebounds.
“We needed to come back and play like our season was on the road and we did,” Brown mentioned.
The collection doesn’t resume till Recreation 3 on Saturday in Milwaukee.
Boston completed 20 of 43 from past the arc and scored 24 factors off 16 Milwaukee turnovers.
“We needed to match their physicality and punch again tonight,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka mentioned. “A giant message was present them who we're.”
They did that.
The Celtics performed with out Defensive Participant of the Yr Marcus Good after he was dominated out earlier than the sport with a bruised proper thigh he sustained in Recreation 1. Derrick White took his place within the beginning lineup, making his first begin in a playoff recreation since 2019 when he was with San Antonio.
“The ship’s received to maintain going. Everyone received to do some bit extra,” Tatum mentioned.
Even with out Good, the Celtics clamped down on Giannis Antetokounmpo after his triple-double within the collection opener, limiting him to twenty-eight factors — largely within the third quarter — 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Jrue Vacation added 19 factors and 7 assists. Bobby Portis chipped in 13 factors and eight rebounds.
Antetokounmpo mentioned the Celtics are doing so much to make it powerful for him inside.
“Robust our bodies, being energetic, being bodily —- that’s just about it,” he mentioned. “It’s gotten harder to search out your teammates.”
With Good watching in avenue garments from the bench, the Celtics scored the sport’s first seven factors on their approach to taking an 18-3 lead and forcing a fast timeout by the Bucks.
Boston scored from a wide range of completely different spots on the court docket through the run – attacking each on the rim and contained in the paint. It additionally included 12 factors from the 3-point line, the place the Celtics struggled for many of Recreation 1.
“It’s not Wilt Chamberlain down there (within the paint),” Udoka mentioned. “We will get downhill and assault.”
Antetokounmpo missed his first six pictures earlier than lastly getting on the scoreboard through a dunk with lower than a minute left within the opening interval.
It didn’t cease Boston from banking a 32-21 lead heading into the second quarter, boosted by 17 factors from Brown –a profession playoff-high for 1 / 4.
The Celtics continued to share and saved Milwaukee’s protection in chase mode, finally taking a 65-40 edge into the half.
The Bucks minimize into what had been a 26-point Celtics lead within the third quarter. Antetokounmpo keyed the cost with 18 factors within the interval. A ten-0 Milwaukee run, aided by a greater than five-minute Celtics scoring drought, trimmed Boston’s result in 72-56 late within the third quarter.
Milwaukee saved nibbling away and received it down it to 94-82 on a pair of free throws by Antetokounmpo. However Tatum made a 3-pointer and Boston pulled away once more.
Marcus Good’s standing
Celtics coach Ime Udoka mentioned Good skilled some swelling, ache and restricted motion over the previous two days. However the expectation is for him to be prepared in time for Recreation 3.
“I don’t suppose it’s long-term,” Udoka mentioned. “With three days off we’re assuming he’ll be OK.”
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