After logging heavy minutes in an additional time win over the Minnesota Timberwolves within the TD Backyard the evening earlier than, the Celtics traveled to Milwaukee to face the Bucks, who had a two-day relaxation heading into the matchup.
Boston then acquired destroyed, 135-102.
From the leap, you can inform that this recreation was going to be powerful. Nobody may have guessed it could be THIS powerful, although.
Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo traded buckets to start out off a first-quarter blitz towards a drained Celtics protection. Brook Lopez and Malik Beasley acquired in on the motion, and every thing was stepping into for Milwaukee early.
It was wanting fairly bleak for the blokes in inexperienced, aside from Oshae Brissett entering into the paint for a gross one-handed slam over Pat Connaughton. Then he made a minimize for one more jam. Attending to the rim early in video games has been a wrestle for Boston, so Brissett’s contributions had been welcomed.
Nonetheless, the Bucks led 41-23 on the finish of the primary quarter. Yikes.
Milwaukee shot 65% from the sphere and 67% from three within the first. Evaluate that to 36% and 13% for Boston, and also you’ll perceive why the Bucks dominated the primary.
Over the primary two quarters, the Bucks strung collectively a 25-0 run, due to Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. Antetokounmpo completed with 24 factors, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. Portis completed with 28 and 12 off the bench.
There was a lid on the bucket for the entire first half, and the Bucks led 75-38 on the half – the most important half-time deficit within the NBA this season. Boston had only one make from 16 three-point makes an attempt, and shot 16-50 from the sphere. Simply horrible.
On the half, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 10 factors on 5-14 capturing. Jayson Tatum had solely taken six pictures, and had seven factors.
They didn’t play one other minute.
Confronted with the chance to make the most important comeback in NBA historical past (36 factors), Boston sat all of their starters for the remainder of the sport. I can’t say I blame them – my backup recapper is ending this one out for me, too.
The bench placed on a pleasant little 8-0 run within the third, the perfect stretch of offense within the recreation for the Celtics.
I want rookie Jordan Walsh was energetic for this recreation. It will have been very nice to get him a complete half of a recreation that not issues. Walsh has but to make his NBA debut, however is averaging 18 factors, 8 rebounds, and 1 help on 42% capturing from deep with the Maine Celtics of the G League.
As a substitute, we acquired a variety of Brissett, Payton Pritchard, Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton, and Neemias Queta. Which is enjoyable too, I suppose.
Ought to we be involved about this recreation?
Truthfully, no. This was such a weird final result that it’s unattainable to tug something of worth from the Celtics’ play. Yeah, they had been dangerous. And sure, they had been drained. However don’t take heed to the noise – Boston continues to be main the league in virtually each approach attainable, and dudes have dangerous video games.
Let’s simply hope they acquired this out of their system, and we’ll see how they do towards the Rockets on Saturday.
The Celtics may have the Bucks once more on March thirtieth.
Excellent news for me – it’s often powerful to put in writing this sort of piece so shortly all through the sport, however I had loads of time to put in writing this recap within the 24 minutes of rubbish time – and whereas Antetokounmpo did his 30 second free throw dance each time he went to the road.
