Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Bucks: Boston Sends a Message in Blowout Victory
The Celtics' 140-99 shellacking of the Bucks probably won't propel them to the top seed in the East. They trail Milwaukee by two games with five left in the regular season.
But crazier things have happened, and thanks to winning the season series, they have the tiebreaker. The victory also creates a 2.5-game cushion separating Boston and the third-seeded Sixers.
Still, after Tuesday's loss to the Wizards, which was the latest example of playing down to sub-.500 competition, it was important for the defending Eastern Conference champions to treat this game like the potential playoff matchup it is and get back to demonstrating winning habits.
The Celtics did just that, as their stellar two-way play earned most of their starters the final frame off in a 140-99 blowout where their advantage grew as large as 49 points.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 70 points on Thursday, outscoring the Bucks 70-69 with a minute left in the third quarter.
They also became the first duo to have a season with ten games where they each scored at least 30 points since Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in 2002-03.
Tatum finished with a game-high 40 points. He shot 12/18 from the field, drilling 8/10 threes, an encouraging performance from the four-time All-Star who entered the night shooting below 30 percent from three-point range since the All-Star break. He also went 8/8 at the free-throw line. And his eight rebounds were the most on Boston.
Brown registered 30 points, repeatedly getting to the rim on drives and cuts, and knocked down 3/5 threes. The two-time All-Star also dished out five assists and grabbed five rebounds.
In a dominating display where the Celtics were locked-in from the opening tip, they did an excellent job showing Giannis Antetokounmpo multiple bodies, whether building a wall or surrounding him in the low post, translating to the two-time league MVP requiring 27 shots to score 24 points. He also only attempted three free throws.
Between that, knowing who to leave open from beyond the arc and playing on a string, with excellent rotations and on-ball pressure that kept Milwaukee from collapsing the defense, the hosts shot 37.6 percent from the field, including 14/43 (32.6 percent) from three-point range.
Those stops, combined with 14 turnovers, leading to 17 points, helped the visitors maintain an up-tempo approach that helped them produce 54 points in the paint and repeatedly create high-quality looks.
Moving the ball with purpose, Boston assisted on 28/51 field goals and shot 56 percent from the floor, including 22/43 (51.2 percent) from behind the arc.
Now, a deep dive into what stood out each quarter as Boston constructed arguably its best performance of the season.
Jaylen Brown's Scorching Start and Boston's Stingy Defense Paces Celtics in the First Frame
Jaylen Brown got off to a scorching hot start, generating 17 of the Celtics' first 25 points, scoring from all three levels, stepping into pull-up threes, uncorking a mid-range fadeaway, driving to the basket, and getting a dunk off a backdoor cut.
Finishing quarters strong has been a point of emphasis from Joe Mazzulla and Boston's coaching staff throughout the season. Thursday, the defending Eastern Conference champions obliged.
The Celtics outscored the Bucks 7-2 in the final minute, including Robert Williams rotating to help Jaylen Brown against Giannis Antetokounmpo in the low post, blocking the Greek Freak from behind. The visitors converted that rejection into a Malcolm Brogdon layup at the other end.
And after another stop and Jayson Tatum getting to the cylinder for two more points, Boston built its largest lead of the opening quarter, taking a 31-24 advantage.
He then rattled home a three, giving the Celtics a 34-26 edge after 12 minutes.
Brown led all scorers with 17 points. Tatum ended the period with seven.
Boston assisted on 9/14 field goals, shot 58.3 percent from the field, including 6/10 from beyond the arc, and produced 16 points in the paint.
Khris Middleton paced the hosts with nine points on 4/6 shooting. Antetokounmpo chipped in five, faring 2/7 from the field and dealing with two and sometimes three defenders when he got the ball in the low post.
Playing on a string, the Celtics' limited the Bucks to 38.5 percent shooting from the floor, including 3/11 (27.3 percent) from three-point range. They also induced four Milwaukee turnovers, leading to four of Boston's points.
Stellar Two-Way Play Propels Celtics to Near-30-Point Lead at Halftime
Tatum entered the night shooting 29.4 percent from beyond the arc on 9.5 attempts since the All-Star break, per NBA.com. So, it was nice to see him bury three-straight threes spanning from the final minute of the first quarter into the start of the second.
The four-time All-Star manufactured eight of the visitors' first ten points of the period.
At the other end of the floor, the Celtics continued to play lockdown defense, limiting the Bucks to 21 points.
Between consistently showing Antetokounmpo multiple bodies when he got the ball and how well Boston's rotating, then closing out to protect the three-point line and keep Milwaukee from collapsing the defense, the hosts shot 30 percent from the field and went 0/11 from behind the arc.
They also had four more turnovers, committing eight in the first half, translating to eight points for the visitors.
While the Bucks converted 12 offensive rebounds into a 13-4 advantage in second-chance points, something the Celtics have to clean up in the second half, their ability to get stops consistently fueled their up-tempo offense.
With Boston pushing the pace, attacking off misses and giveaways, Milwaukee's guests produced 30 points in the paint.
The Celtics repeatedly generated high-quality shots, moving the ball with purpose, leading to 16 assists on 27 field goals, and shooting 51.9 percent from the field in the first 24 minutes, including 12/23 (52.2 percent) on threes.
That combination of stellar two-way play led to Boston building an advantage that grew as high as 30 and taking a 75-47 lead into the locker room.
Jayson Tatum paced all participants with 22 points.
Brown registered 20, Al Horford contributed 12, and Brogdon provided ten off the bench. The latter scored eight in the second frame, consistently pushing the pace and getting to the basket.
Robert Williams also made a significant impact, providing energy, rim-protection, and giving the Celtics' perimeter defenders the confidence to play tighter to the ball, helping minimize the damage the hosts inflicted on drives to the point it felt nonexistent.
The Time Lord also grabbed four offensive rebounds.
After manufacturing four second-chance points in the first half, doing a better job capitalizing on those opportunities, like in the play above, when they present themselves in the second half would well serve Boston's effort to keep Milwaukee from coming back.
The Celtics Don't Take Their Foot Off the Gas in the Third Frame
With the Bucks down by nearly 30 just over three minutes into the third quarter, Middleton, upset with the lack of a foul call on a missed reverse layup off a baseline drive, picked up a take foul, then a technical.
The Celtics made both ensuing free throws, and while they didn't score after retaining possession, after another stop, Tatum drilled another three, making him 5/7 from beyond the arc, giving Boston an 86-53 lead. It also gave the four-time All-Star 27 points.
Shortly after that, Brown attacked the basket in transition, but he inadvertently elbowed Middleton in the mouth as he tried to euro step around him for a layup. The blow cut Middleton open, sending him to the locker room.
His exit certainly didn't help Milwaukee's effort to stem the tide. And when the Celtics, continuing to steamroll the top seed in the East, staged an 11-2 run, featuring six points by Brown, including Marcus Smart again finding him for a dunk off a backdoor cut, and five by Tatum, including another three, the visitors expanded their lead to 100-61 with 4:25 left in the third quarter.
Even with Mike Budenholzer then taking a timeout and subbing out Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday, Mazzulla kept his top players in, including Tatum and Brown.
Understanding the message, they didn't let up. That 11-2 burst ballooned to 19-5, giving the visitors a 108-64 advantage with less than three minutes left in the frame.
With 1:11 remaining, Tatum and Brown had combined for 70 points, outscoring the Bucks by themselves.
The Celtics ended the period ahead 114-74.
Celtics Cruise to the Finish Line
With Boston on the first night of a back-to-back, hosting the Jazz Friday, Mazzulla started the fourth quarter with a unit featuring Derrick White, Brogdon, Sam Hauser, Grant Williams, and Robert Williams.
That group outscored Milwaukee 14-5 in the period's first five minutes, expanding the lead to 125-79.
And while the final frame got chippy when a Blake Griffin foul from over the top of Thanasis Antetokounmpo resulted in the latter headbutting the former and getting ejected, the lead was too sizable for the hosts to threaten to orchestrate a comeback or force the visitors to bring Tatum and Brown back in the game.
The Celtics' star duo, Smart, and Horford enjoyed the final 12 minutes from the bench as Boston cruised to a 140-99 win, taking the season series from the Bucks.
It likely won't lead to the Celtics surpassing them for the top seed in the East, but with them needing to tighten up, it was significant for Boston to put together a performance like this against its top threat in the conference and maybe the NBA.
Up Next
The Celtics host the Jazz Friday night; tip-off is at 7:30 pm EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.
Further Reading
Al Horford Shares His First Impressions of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum
Al Horford Discusses Jayson Tatum's Ability to Stay Locked in Even When He's Struggling
Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Wizards: Cold Shooting Dooms Boston in Costly Defeat
