BSJ Live Coverage: Celtics at Bucks 7:30 p.m. - Giannis Antetokounmpo returns

BOSTON CELTICS (40-20) at MILWAUKEE BUCKS (26-33)

Location: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisc.

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

TV: NBA TV

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Celtics injury report:

• Jaylen Brown - OUT (non-Covid illness)

• Neemias Quetae - OUT (rest)

• Jayson Tatum - OUT (right Achilles repair)

Bucks injury report:

• Alex Antetokounmpo - OUT (G League, two-way)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo - AVAILABLE (right calf strain)

• Taurean Prince - OUT (neck surgery)

• Cormac Ryan - OUT (G League, two-way)

What to watch for: Giannis Antetokounmpo will return to action tonight against the Boston Celtics, making Monday night one of the most interesting games on the NBA's slate.

Antetokounmpo hasn't played since January 23, but now, he'll be back in the Milwaukee Bucks' lineup.

The Celtics have established themselves as one of the best teams in the NBA. Ever since their 0-3 start to the season, they’ve been on a roll.

Now, they have a top-10 offense and top-10 defense in the NBA.

Tale of the tape: This will be the third time Boston has played the Bucks this year.

In their first matchup, the Bucks stunned the Celtics. Kyle Kuzma put up 31 points, and Bobby Portis had 27 off the bench. Milwaukee took down Boston without Antetokounmpo.

But when the Bucks came to Boston, the Celtics got their revenge. Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, and the Celtics held the Bucks to 79 points.

Last game: Boston is fresh off an impressive victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night.

Neemias Queta scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 17 rebounds (including 10 offensive boards). Brown also had 27, and the Celtics gritted out a 114-98 win.

Standings check-in: The Celtics are still in second place in the Eastern Conference. They are 5.5 games back of the Detroit Pistons and 1.5 games ahead of the New York Knicks.

Bucks check-in: Milwaukee has lost two games in a row, but they are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks were struggling, but they signed Cam Thomas after he was waived by the Brooklyn Nets.

In his first nine games with the Bucks, Thomas has played 19.0 minutes coming off the bench. He’s averaging 14.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 44.0% from the field and 27.3% from deep on 3.7 three-point attempts.

However, his tenure with Milwaukee has been highlighted by a 34-point outing in his second game in a Bucks uniform. He helped them beat the Orlando Magic in that one.

One fun play: Queta and Derrick White dominated in the pick-and-roll on Sunday against Philadelphia, but the rest of the Celtics capitalized on that success.

Since the Sixers wanted to send extra pressure at White, that left Queta open for rolls to the rim. But it also meant that Philadelphia was sending him from the corners.

So, when VJ Edgecombe helped on the Queta drive here, the Celtics big man made a quick pass to Sam Hauser for an open three.

Queta’s improvements this season have stretched beyond his rebounding and screening. He’s also become a much better passer.