Final: Bucks 108, Celtics 100

Giannis Antetokonmpo played like an MVP for the final three quarters and the Celtics simply could find an answer for the athletic forward without Marcus Morris or Gordon Hayward available. The All-Star scored a game-high 37 points and added 13 rebounds to help the Bucks spoil the Celtics home opener with a 108-100 victory.

Boston led for the majority of the second half after rallying from an five-point halftime deficit early in the third quarter but their offense lost steam in the final 10 minutes of the game. Kyrie Irving resorted to some isolation ball on a night his shooting wasn't falling 17 points (7-of-25 from field) and it particularly hurt in the second half (2-of-13 after intermission) as the hosts failed to keep pace with a high-powered Bucks offense. Milwaukee outscored Boston 32-20 in the final frame.

Jaylen Brown led the C's for the second straight game with a team-high 18 points before fouling out with two minutes remaining.

The 0-2 Celtics hit the road to try to earn their first win of the season in Philadelphia on Friday.

FOURTH QUARTER OBSERVATIONS 

• Ball movement looked pretty horrendous in the middle stretch of the period as Kyrie Irving resorted to some isolation ball and contested jumpers. He's 2-for-14 shooting in the second half.


• Jaylen Brown fouls out with just under 2 minutes remaining in the game while trying to box out Greek Freak.

• Semi Ojeleye gets a crack at Giannis in the third quarter because no one else has been able to stop him for the past quarter and a half.


• Celtics sustain some improved defensive energy an offensive execution in the first six minutes of the frame, posting a 16-6 run to re-take the lead.


• Greg Monroe usually gives the Celtics trouble and that remains the case tonight. He's got 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench.


• Some great ball movement starting to develop off of Irving's drives into the paint. He's staying patient and finding the right shooters. C's are making extra pass as well off these dishes.

• Al Horford and Marcus Smart doing a nice job of anchoring the Celtics bench unit against most of the Bucks starters


• Bucks center John Henson really showing some nice bounce in his step tonight on the shot blocking front.


• The growth by Terry Rozier in the paint this year has been incredibly encouraging. He was one of the worst finishers in the league last year, but he's showing far more patience and control in the paint this year. It's resulting in some pretty finishes in the first two games.


• Two instigators for both teams (Marcus Smart and Matthew Dellavedova) got into it early as both teams had to be separated. Borderline cheap shot from Dellavedova (shoulder/elbow hit) led to Smart getting into his face for the tech.


• First minutes of the year for Daniel Theis in the second quarter. That makes Guerschon Yabusele as the only Celtic on the roster who hasn't seen minutes during these first two games.


• Giannis Antetokounmpo really showed shades of his MVP potential in the first half, piling up 15 points and 9 rebounds after a slow start in the first quarter. Celtics, like most teams, just don't have an answer for him.


• Rozier led or tied for the team lead in the following categories at half: points (10), rebounds (6), assists (3). Just a huge effort by him thus far to keep C's offense on pace.

• Lots of energy from Jaylen Brown early but his efficiency isn't there in night two. He's started the game 1-of-5 from the field


• Stevens keeping a tighter rotation than usual over the first 12 minutes. Only eight players saw minutes, with rookie Jayson Tatum nearly playing the entire frame. Part of that might just be matching up with a team like the Bucks but he's committed to keeping his bench on a short leash early (Rozier, Baynes, Nader) with the starters.


• Celtics did a very nice job containing the Greek Freak early. Giannis also scored two points in the game's first five minutes before heading to the bench with two fouls.


• A surprise to see Abdel Nader as the first man off the bench. The Bucks are a team with a lot of length though and after some less than impressive stints from Shane Larkin and Semi Ojeleye last night, Nader was given the first crack at some reserve wing minutes.


• Tons of energy out of the gate for the starting five, as all five players were on the scoreboard during the first six minutes of the contest.


• Huge cheers during the pregame as Gordon Hayward recorded a message from his hospital bed for Garden fans that was played on the Jumbotron after starting lineups were announced.