Final: Bucks 119, Celtics 112 -- Giannis too much for Celtics late

Jayson Tatum (2-of-18 FG, five points) played his worst game of the season during the Celtics’ first game of the restart on Friday night, but that did not stop the Celtics from rallying from a 15-point deficit and remaining within striking distance in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, Giannis Antetokounmpo (36 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists) was too much for the Celtics late, leading Milwaukee on a game-closing 12-5 run to seal the victory for the Bucks.

The case can be made that Antetokounmpo should have been out of the game before his late-game heroics after a hostile act was reviewed that involved Antetokonompo committing a potential sixth foul. Since it wasn’t a flagrant the refs weren’t able to call it upon review. Moments later, a charge call on Anteokounmpo that would have been fouled was also reversed to a block on Marcus smart after a review, giving the Bucks the lead for good.

Smart was the best player on the floor for the C’s all night with a team-high 23 points while Kemba Walker looked sharp during his 20 minutes of action adding 16 points before his night ended in the third quarter due to a minutes limit. Ultimately, the C’s couldn’t overcome a brutal shooting night from Tatum who made just one field goal on his own during the night (the other one was a Buck tip-in that was credited to him). His struggles from inside and out left the C’s battling uphill for much of the night after falling behind 17-2 early.

The loss drops the C’s to 43-22 on the season and just 2.5 games ahead of the Heat for the time being for the No. 3. C’s return to action Sunday afternoon against the Blazers.

—Jayson Tatum really struggling from the field in the early going, failing to make a shot on his own with his only make being a tip-in by the Bucks in the fist quarter. He’s got 3 points in 15 minutes and has piled up 3 fouls.

—Kemba Walker was moving around well for the second straight game in his 13 first half minutes. He’s creating separation off the dribble and walking into plenty of good looks off screens at the top of the key. 10 points for him and he’s probably got what stint left in the second half.

—C’s have managed to stay in this game at the free throw line. They have piled up 29 free throws in the first half alone, a number they hit in only 15 games total all season.

—Marcus Smart changed the game with his energy halfway through the first quarter. He’s got a team-high 12 points off the bench and has been pesky on the defensive end all game.

—Brad Wanamaker has been the early beneficiary of Walker’s minutes limit with 13 minutes off the bench. He’s a team-high +13 and has added 8 points.

—Jaylen Brown has struggled like Tatum but has been aggressive getting to the FT line, piling up eight attempts in the first ahfl alone.

—C’s struggling with their open looks from beyond the 3-point line, going just 5-of-19 in the first half.

—C’s have had no answer for Giannis early who has effortlessly piled up 16 points and 10 rebounds in 13 minutes. Bucks clearly opting to keep his minutes down.

—Celtics are doing a nice job contesting Bucks 3-point shooters but they have to be better about avoiding fouls. They have fouled Bucks 3 times in the first half.

• Kemba Walker will be limited to 14-20 minutes by the Celtics training staff in this matchup in order to protect against his knee soreness reemerging. Brad Stevens plans on playing Walker on a normal playing rotation so it's likely Walker will hit his limit early in the second half.


• Today's game marks the first time during the 2019-20 regular season that no one is on the injury report for Boston. Jaylen Brown has missed the two previous matchups against the Bucks this season. Boston and Milwaukee has split the season series so far with both teams winning on their home courts.


• The Bucks will be seriously shorthanded in the backcourt today with Eric Bledsoe and Pat Connaughton both ruled out by the team after their late arrivals to the Orlando bubble following their positive tests for COVID-19. Both players are being held back to improve their conditioning. Marvin Williams is also doubtful to play for the Bucks due to a groin strain.


• Daniel Theis on the challenge of facing the Bucks with so many 3-point shooters surrounding Giannis: "We have to pack the paint. (Giannis) is great going downhill, so it’s not just one guy who will guard him. It will be everybody. It’s also interesting because they put Brook Lopez in the corner to shoot threes, and that takes a rim protector out of the paint. So the whole team has to defend the actions, and we have to be locked and loaded the whole game."