Final: Celtics 111, Bucks 100

GAME: No. 25 of 82
WHO: Celtics (20-4) vs. Bucks (12-9)
WHEN:  7:30 EST
WHERE:  TD Garden
RADIO: 100.7 WZLX
TV: NBC Sports Boston, NBATV
BOX SCORE: NBA.COM

Projected Starting Lineups:

Celtics
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Aron Baynes

Bucks:

PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: Tony Snell
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: John Henson 

Third quarter notes

• Kyrie Irving taking command right away on offense, with his scoring and playmaking. He’s really outclassing Eric Bledsoe in the head-to-head matchup.


• Celtics pushed a 13-point halftime lead up to 20 early in the quarter, but Giannis Antetokounmpo has been fighting hard to keep the Bucks in the game. He went for 16 points in the third quarter alone to help Milwaukee stay in the game. He’s got 34 points through three quarters.


• The visitors were red-hot from downtown as well, going 4-of-5 from 3-point range to help post a 32-point quarter.


• Kyrie Irving scored 14 of his 27 points in the frame, to take over the heavy lifting for the hosts.


• The trouble really started in the frame when Al Horford went to the bench with four fouls halfway through the period.

• Some great minutes by the second unit for the start of the second quarter. The 3-point shooting is contagious for everyone right now as Morris, Rozier, and Smart all knocked down a trey during the frame.


• Defensively, this unit also put the clamps on the Bucks second unit, limiting Milwaukee to just four points from the bench unit in totality.


• C’s also cut down on the fouling, as Bucks shot just five free throws in the second quarter after 12 in the first.


• Offensively, Daniel Theis continues to be a nice efficient weapon in the paint, with four more early points. He continues to make the most of his opportunities.


• Celtics pushed out the lead to 21 in one stretch with the starters back on the floor, but some turnovers (Bucks have scored 14 points off seven miscues) helped the visitors trim down the lead a little bit.


• 59 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent shooting from 3 in the first half. C’s are on pace to shoot over 50 percent from the field for the fifth straight game.


• Jaylen Brown sat the entire quarter with three fouls.

• What a frantic start to this one, both teams were flying on both ends of the floor, creating some entertaining uptempo basketball with plenty of offense.


• The Bucks were doing a lot of aggressive trapping early and Jayson Tatum took advantage with plenty of open looks from the perimeter on kickouts. He finished the quarter with 14 points, including a red-hot 4-of-4 from 3-point range.


• Defensively, it wasn't pretty early for Boston as the Bucks made a living at the free throw line (12 attempts). Jaylen Brown was responsible for a number of these attempts, picking up three quick fouls on some ill advised fouls that sent him to the bench quickly.


• Very nice quarter for Aron Baynes as well, who was a nice kickout option for Kyrie Irving after traps. He moved the ball well and attacked mismatches, punishing the visitors for their aggressive defense.

• Jayson Tatum leads the NBA in 3-point shooting through 24 games at 49.3 percent.


• This will be the third matchup for the Bucks and Celtics this year already, as each has won already on their opponent's home floor. They won't play again after tonight until April.


• The Bucks are 8-3 since acquiring point guard Eric Bledsoe from the Suns for Greg Monroe at the start of November. He wasn't with the team during the last two matchups with Boston and has fit in quite well since arriving, averaging 16.9 ppg on 44 percent shooting. His arrival has shifted Malcolm Brogdon to the bench, which is probably a good thing for the C's, since he's killed them over the last couple years.


• Celtics have the sixth best offense in the NBA over the past two weeks, which has catapulted them towards the top half of the NBA in offensive efficiency.