Duel in Milwaukee between the Bucks and the Celtics fighting for second place in the East. He came to the Fiserv Forum Boston as second. And he left him as third, giving up that second position to his rival today.
Milwaukee won 127-121 thanks to its final push. They beat the Celtics 118-121 with 2:27 remaining. But the game closed with a partial 9-0.
Now, Bucks is second at 50-30. Celtics is third with 50-31. And the Sixers are in fourth place at 49-31 after losing in Toronto. Raptors won 119-114 with a huge triple-double from Pascal Siakam. He had 37 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
Sticking to Bucks-Celtics…Milwaukee hurt on the rebound. And he knew how to play the end better. Without Grayson Allen up for grabs this time. Although more underweight had Celtics. Without Jayson Tatum. Without Al Horford. Plus the usual absence of the injured Robert Williams III.
The local big three worked wonders. Giannis Antetokounmpo he left with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Jrue Holiday he went to 29 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Y Khris Middleton to 22 plus 8 rebounds and 9 assists.
added 17 points Bobby Portis and 15 Brook Lopez.
In Boston, 29 points, 7 assists and 7 three-pointers Marcus Smart. And triple-double of Jaylen Brown: 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Daniel Theis made 22 points and Derrick White19. Both serving as starters.
Also, good first part of Sam Hauser. Wisconsin-born rookie playing for Boston.
The Celtics were a threat from 3-point range. They put no less than 21. But it did not help them. And they temporarily lose the privileged second place in their conference.