Final: Celtics 92, Bucks 87 -- Defense sparks gritty win

It wasn't pretty, but the Celtics got the job done with defense in a pivotal Game 5 against the Bucks on Tuesday night. Al Horford posted 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Marcus Smart was everywhere on the defensive end in his return from thumb surgery, sparking a 92-87 win over the Bucks.

WHO: Celtics (2-2) vs. Bucks (2-2)
WHEN: 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
TV: NBATV, NBC Sports Boston

Celtics
PG: Terry Rozier
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Semi Ojeleye
C: Al Horford

Bucks
PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: Malcolm Brogdon
F: Khris Middleton
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Tyler Zeller

Second Quarter Notes

• Some early second quarter struggles, as has been tradition for the Celtics in this series. Middleton got it going in the midrange and some turnovers helped the Bucks trim an early Boston lead to two.


• C's managed to recover before Giannis got back into the game though, pushing the lead back out to eight with some balanced scoring.


• An 18-6 run midway through the frame pushed the advantage back up to 14 points, as the Bucks couldn't get anything going against the C's improved defense and couldn't stop 3-point looks after good ball movement by Boston.


• Smart stuffed the stat sheet in the first half, posting contributions in every single category, including four turnovers. His energy has been contagious on the defensive end.


• The Bucks bench has been miserable shooting the ball, going 3-of-14 from the field. This group simply are different players on the road. Boston's defense is better, but they can't connect even on transition looks.

• Late surprise from Brad Stevens by inserting Semi Ojeleye in the starting five over Aron Baynes.


• The move was a clear indicator that the premium was being placed on the defense by Stevens for this series. Ojeleye gives them a much more versatile look and he opened the game guarding Giannis.


• C's started slow offensively, with some iffy shot selection and missed open 3s. Their offensive rebounding edge was gone with Baynes on the bench so no one was down low to clean up the extra misses.


• Ojeleye hit a big corner 3 at one points, but C's other starters missed their first five attempts.


• However, the defense really started to get rolling midway through the frame. There was no real open looks for any of the Bucks starting five as C's switched all over the perimeter and shaded extra help towards Khris Middleton so he didn't get any extra looks.


• Marcus Smart saw his first action with two minutes remaining and immediately make an impact with a diving steal, a block of a Giannis lob, plus and and-one layup. He showed no signs of rust on either end, outside of a bad lob pass to Baynes.


• C's played their best defensive quarter of the series, limiting the Bucks to just 15 points.

• Marcus Smart was cleared for contact by his doctor on Monday after rehabbing his torn right thumb tendon following surgery. The fourth-year guard went through shootaround this morning and will play tonight, barring a last minute setback. "One thing is he hasn’t played in a month and a half," Brad Stevens explained. "So this is an opportunity to come in and do what he does best, and that’s impact the game with his energy, his physicality, his savvy and his skill. I think one of the things obviously when you’ve got a player of his caliber, he’s really excited to play. But at the same time we’ll see how he feels. Again, if he’s got any lingering effects at all after going a two-on-two or a three-on-three here in an hour or so, then we won’t play him."


• Terry Rozier shot 5-of-19 from the field during the two losses in Milwaukee and reflected upon what needs to happen for him to bounce back from those struggles. "I just wasn’t making shots," he said Tuesday. "I gotta take shots too, I have to take more shots, I can’t worry about the field-goal percentage or get caught up in all that other stuff. I gotta put my teammates in the best position to win. I think I didn’t do that. I didn’t play with that fire I played with the last two games. It’s been bothering me a little bit. But one thing I told myself these games, I wanted to run with a clear mind. Not gonna worry about what happened in the first four games, obviously I’ve been watching film. I’ll come back out with that fight, put pressure on the defense, create for myself and others and I think that’s gonna help us put us over the top to go to the next level, the next series."


• The Celtics have the third worst defensive rating among NBA playoff teams after finishing with the best defense in the NBA during the regular season. The Bucks are shooting a playoff-best 54 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range over the first four games.


• If Smart does play, look for him to see significant time on Khris Middleton on the defensive end. He spent 32 possessions guarding him during the regular season and outperformed a number of Celtic rotation players in limiting the veteran wing from getting hot.