Final: Celtics 117, Bucks 113 -- C's make franchise history in win

The Celtics held off a late charge from the Bucks in the closing seconds behind some timely defense from Kyrie Irving and Al Horford and knocked off the previously undefeated visitors the league with a 117-113 thrilling victory on a record-breaking night at the TD Garden. The Celtics made 24 3-point field goals in the victory, a new franchise record that put them just one make shy of the NBA record for most 3s in the game. Kyrie Irving (28 points) led the balanced scoring effort for Boston that featured six different Celtics in double figures despite the absence of Jaylen Brown (sore foot). Semi Ojeleye also scored a season-high 10 points by starting in Brown's place.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a game-high 33 points in the setback. The victory was Boston's fourth straight overall and puts them just one game behind Milwaukee for the top spot in the East. The C's now head out on a five-game road trip stretched over nine days that takes them through three different time zones. 

Second Quarter Notes

• C's barrage of offense keeps coming from beyond the arc, as well over 60 percent of their shots come from downtown.


• Gordon Hayward is playing some of the best basketball of the season on the offensive end, shooting in rhythm on his jumpers and moving the ball well on cuts into the paint. He's got a team-high 13 points in 14 minutes.


• C's take 28 3-pointers in the first half on 47 shots. Boston is doing a nice job of keeping Bucks off 3-point line as well with just 14 attempts of their 48 coming from deep.


• Antetokounmpo got going nicely in the paint in the second frame, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the frame. Some nice bench minutes as well from Ilyasova and DiVincenzo.


• Horford and Irving started to shake out of their slumps towards end of trey by knocking down a couple 3s.


• Tatum taking a lot of tough shots and not making any of them. 0-of-5 with zero points in the first half.

• Very nice start for Gordon Hayward against smaller Malcolm Brogdon. Hits a quick 3 and a drive on him, while blowing him on reverse layups the other way.


• Al Horford really having his way with Brook Lopez as the true center struggles to get out and contest his shots. Horford knocked down his first two from deep.


• Tatum settling a bit too much early with long jumpers.


• Semi Ojeleye finding his rhythm early as well from deep, knocking down one of his first two 3s of the night.


• C's start the game taking eight of their first 12 shots from downtown. Getting great looks off the pick-and-roll repeatedly.


• Bucks and C's both go ice cold in the second half of the quarter. Bucks end up shooting just 31 percent in the opening frame with no starters knocking down more than a field goal.


• C's shooting is relatively lackluster as well (37 percent) but they are able to open up seven-point lead behind the Bucks six turnovers.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo will be back in the lineup for the Bucks after sitting out a game with concussion symptoms.


• Jaylen Brown will not play after testing his sore foot pregame. Semi Ojeleye will start in his place. "It’s pain across the foot, so any time I put pressure down, when I take off or run, I feel pain shoot around the foot," Brown said Thursday. "If it was a playoff game, I’d definitely be trying to play through it, but the concern is we have an 82-game season, so they are kind of reeling me back, but we’ll see how it goes."


• The Celtics picked up the option on Guerschon Yabusele for the 2019-20 season on Wednesday and Brad Stevens was optimistic to see the power forward sticking around for one more year at the least. "I think Guerschon has a high upside," Stevens said. "I think Guerschon is 22 years old and has played in a group with a lot of accomplished 4s and 5s and there haven't been a lot of minutes. We've had a chance to see his development up close in practice. Again, he's young and when you have his ability to move with his skillset and knowledge of how to play, it makes a lot of sense and fits the modern NBA. We're excited to have him back. His opportunities certainly will come and go this year if we continue to stay healthy, but we think he's a got a bright upside and a bright future."


• Additional matchup thoughts: 4 things to watch for in Bucks-Celtics showdown