BOSTON — There was a instant all through the Celtics’ collection-opening reduction to the Bucks when it seemed as if Jaylen Brown would in no way make a shot.
Early in Sport 2, it felt like he could not overlook.
Brown scored 25 of his 30 details in the first 50 percent, and Boston defeat Milwaukee 109-86 on Tuesday night to even the Jap Convention semifinals at just one video game apiece.
“It’s the playoffs. Which is it,” Brown reported. “We simply cannot enable a person sport type of dictate how this sequence goes. We wanted to be aggressive from the gate.”
Brown shook off a dismal capturing night in Sport 1, likely 9 for 10 in the 1st 50 %, such as 5 for 5 from the 3-issue line. Jayson Tatum extra 19 points and eight helps. Grant Williams finished with 21 factors. Al Horford had 14 details and 11 rebounds.
“We needed to appear and enjoy like our time was on the line and we did,” Brown stated.
The collection does not resume right until Video game 3 on Saturday in Milwaukee.
Boston finished 20 of 43 from beyond the arc and scored 24 details off 16 Milwaukee turnovers.
“We preferred to match their physicality and punch again tonight,” Celtics mentor Ime Udoka claimed. “A significant information was clearly show them who we are.”
They did that.
The Celtics played without Defensive Participant of the Year Marcus Good immediately after he was dominated out prior to the recreation with a bruised right thigh he sustained in Recreation 1. Derrick White took his spot in the commencing lineup, earning his to start with get started in a playoff recreation since 2019 when he was with San Antonio.
“The ship’s acquired to continue to keep heading. Most people got to do a minimal little bit a lot more,” Tatum reported.
Even with no Wise, the Celtics clamped down on Giannis Antetokounmpo just after his triple-double in the collection opener, limiting him to 28 factors — largely in the 3rd quarter — nine rebounds and 7 helps. Jrue Holiday added 19 points and 7 helps. Bobby Portis chipped in 13 factors and 8 rebounds.
Antetokounmpo said the Celtics are performing a good deal to make it tough for him within.
“Strong bodies, currently being energetic, becoming physical —- which is fairly substantially it,” he said. “It’s gotten tougher to discover your teammates.”
With Intelligent watching in street clothes from the bench, the Celtics scored the game’s initially 7 factors on their way to having an 18-3 direct and forcing a speedy timeout by the Bucks.
Boston scored from a assortment of unique places on the court docket for the duration of the operate – attacking both at the rim and within the paint. It also provided 12 points from the 3-issue line, where the Celtics struggled for most of Sport 1.
“It’s not Wilt Chamberlain down there (in the paint),” Udoka mentioned. “We can get downhill and assault.”
Antetokounmpo skipped his initially 6 shots prior to eventually finding on the scoreboard by way of a dunk with considerably less than a minute left in the opening period.
It didn’t cease Boston from banking a 32-21 lead heading into the 2nd quarter, boosted by 17 details from Brown –a occupation playoff-superior for a quarter.
The Celtics continued to share and retained Milwaukee’s defense in chase method, eventually taking a 65-40 edge into the 50 %.
The Bucks reduce into what experienced been a 26-position Celtics lead in the 3rd quarter. Antetokounmpo keyed the charge with 18 details in the period. A 10- Milwaukee operate, aided by a a lot more than five-moment Celtics scoring drought, trimmed Boston’s guide to 72-56 late in the 3rd quarter.
Milwaukee stored nibbling away and received it down it to 94-82 on a pair of free of charge throws by Antetokounmpo. But Tatum designed a 3-pointer and Boston pulled absent once more.
Marcus Smart’s standing
Celtics coach Ime Udoka reported Sensible seasoned some swelling, pain and restricted movement more than the earlier two times. But the expectation is for him to be all set in time for Sport 3.
“I do not feel it’s extensive-expression,” Udoka stated. “With 3 times off we’re assuming he’ll be Alright.”
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