Inside The Celtics

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Fended Off Bucks' Final Frame Rally

Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo being inactive, the Bucks nearly erased a 21-point deficit on Wednesday night at TD Garden. While how it happened wasn't ideal, the crunch-time reps are valuable.

Bobby Krivitsky

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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While the Milwaukee Bucks were without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for Wednesday's matchup against the Boston Celtics, after going through a pregame workout, Jaylen Brown, initially considered questionable to a right ankle sprain, got the green light to suit up.

However, the hosts of this tilt at TD Garden were without former Buck Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser. The six-foot-eight sharpshooter got an on-court workout in beforehand, though. His return appears close.

Once this meeting between the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference -- though there is a ten-game gap between them -- got underway, Jayson Tatum quickly went to work, producing ten points in the first five minutes.

Between that, Boston's ability to protect the paint, and effective switches that helped cool off Milwaukee after a hot start from beyond the arc, the Celtics built a double-digit advantage.

But with Tatum on the bench, the offense dried up. However, even with buckets harder to manufacture, the defense remained effective. That includes when the hosts went to a double-big lineup featuring Kristaps Porzingis on Jae Crowder while Xavier Tillman guarded Brook Lopez.

Matching up that way allowed the latter to be the one more involved in defending the pick-and-roll. The former Michigan State Spartan challenged shots, ran Malik Beasley off the three-point line before contesting a miss off the drive that clanged off the backboard, and clogged the passing lane on a failed attempt to get the ball back to Damian Lillard, leading to a steal and two points for Derrick White on a breakaway.

The former Colorado Buffalo finished the first frame with 11 points and four assists, pacing all participants in both categories. Tatum registered ten, the second most in the opening 12 minutes, helping Boston take a 33-28 edge into the second quarter.

According to Dick Lipe of NBC Sports Boston, it's the 15th time in the last 16 games that the C's have scored at least 30 points in the opening period.

The story of the second frame was Payton Pritchard.

The fourth-year guard drilled 4/5 shots in the quarter, including toying with Danilo Gallinari before burying a three from the right corner.

He also played impactful on-ball and team defense, applying pressure and effective switches to negate potential advantages for the Bucks. And when he swooped in to wrestle an offensive rebound away from Lopez, it sent the TD Garden faithful into a frenzy.

Pritchard entered intermission with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Boston can also attribute its 69-56 halftime lead to forcing nine turnovers, parlaying them into 11 points, and only committing three giveaways.

Tatum had 23 points on 8/13 shooting, including 4/5 from beyond the arc, at the break.

Lillard and Khris Middleton had 13 points each, pacing the visitors in the first 24 minutes.

In the third quarter, the Celtics continued capitalizing on a disconnected Milwaukee defense, especially in dialing up pick-and-pops to take advantage of drop coverage that left the screener open for threes.

There was also Jaylen Brown carving up the visitors' defense, including making light work of Middleton on a baseline drive to the cup.

The 2022 All-NBA Second Team selection generated 11 points in the frame.

While all of that was going on, rather than forcing the issue, Tatum didn't attempt a shot in the period despite playing 7:05. While extreme, it's an example of his selflessness and that he's willing to consistently make the right play no matter what it calls for.

Despite the former Duke Blue Devil not getting in on the scoring, with his teammates converting on 5/10 threes, shooting 45.5 percent from the field, and putting 32 points on the board, Boston took a 101-83 lead into the last 12 minutes.

Cold shooting, including a miss by Kristaps Porzingis that brought him to 5/14, including 0/4 from three-point range, and Tatum not finding the mark on his first four attempts, allowed the Bucks to pull within ten on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter.

An old-school three-point play by Derrick White, remaining patient with the ball in his hands from the edge of the paint before attacking and utilizing an up-fake to create an opening and draw a foul before finishing through contact, helped the hosts keep Milwaukee at arm's length.

So did White's triple after another potential old-school three-point play, this time for Al Horford, got wiped out by a soft offensive foul. Had the officials ruled in his favor, the former Florida Gator would've gone to the line with a chance to put his team ahead by 16 with under 6:30 left.

Instead, Lillard knocked down a three that kept the visitors within ten. White answering his make with one at the other end was crucial for a struggling offense.

A technical on Tatum and Brown faring 0/2 at the stripe with the Bucks within six, 110-104, with 3:05 remaining, didn't help either.

A Bobby Portis make from the left wing narrowed the gap to 110-107 with 2:56 to go, but a pair of free throws by Tatum, who followed that up with a drive to the basket for a layup from the left side of the cylinder, extended Boston's lead to 114-107, with 1:38 on the clock.

An emphatic two-handed flush from Porzingis after the Celtics' star wing missed a one-legged fadeaway put the hosts ahead 116-109 with 1:12 left.

It seemed like that might be enough of a cushion to propel the C's to the finish line, especially with Antetokounmpo inactive. But after another Lillard three and White missing a layup, Portis finishing through contact gave him a chance to bring the Bucks within one with 32 seconds remaining.

However, he couldn't capitalize. At the other end, Brown got his redemption, converting on both free throws in his latest chance to step to the line in a pressure situation.

Making good on those valuable reps gave Boston a 118-114 advantage with 20.1 seconds to go. 

Those free throws were the final push needed for the hosts to apply the finishing touches on Wednesday's 122-119 victory.

Next, the Celtics travel to Detroit to play the Pistons on Friday night. That game will tip off at 7:00 EST.

Further Reading

Derrick White Reflects on Basketball Journey, First Triple-Double: 'I Never Stopped'

Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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