Final: Bucks 131, Celtics 125 - Celtics push Bucks to the brink, but late mistakes cost them

Game 59: Celtics (+9) vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7:30 p.m., TNT

Injuries: 

Boston: OUT- Danilo Gallinari, Marcus Smart (ankle), Jaylen Brown (face), Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness)

QUESTIONABLE- Al Horford (knee), Robert Williams (ankle)

Milwaukee: OUT- Bobby Portis (knee), Jae Crowder (return to competition reconditioning)

Probable Bucks Starters: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pat Connaugton, Brook Lopez. 

Refs: Marc Davis (#8), Ashley Moyer-Gleich (#13), Jonathan Sterling (#17)

A little something about this game: I’ll be brief with this whole thing because there's not a ton of analysis necessary for this game. The Celtics are going to be missing at least three of their five starters, and possibly all five by the opening tip. The Bucks are going to be at mostly full strength. 

So tonight’s plan is pretty simple: hope the Milwaukee Bucks look at the Celtics without half their team and think they’ve got it in the bag, and take advantage of their lethargy by playing super hard. We’ve seen it happen to the Celtics over and over again, so there's no reason they can’t do it to another team. If the Bucks take the Celtics too lightly, then their shooters can get hot and, maybe, torch Milwaukee for it.

This is a great opportunity for a lot of these guys on national TV. Payton Pritchard wants more opportunity? Well, this is a great way to earn some. All of these guys who might be in more limited roles can spread their wings in Milwaukee. 

Maybe they catch fire from 3 and they surprise the Bucks. Maybe Antetokounmpo gets into foul trouble. Who knows? For one night, the Celtics are a plucky group cobbled together and hoping to overachieve. Maybe an “us against the world” mentality can lead to a surprise.

Or maybe the Bucks will just maraud their way to a 40 point win. We’ll see, I guess.

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.