The Boston Celtics obtained a 40-point efficiency from Jayson Tatum and tightened the hole on the prime of the Eastern Conference standings by breezing to a 140-99 street victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night time.
The end result left Milwaukee (55-22) with a two-game lead over Boston (53-24) within the race for the No. 1 seed within the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Celtics received two of their three regular-season video games in opposition to the Bucks. Each workforce has 5 common season video games to play.
Tatum made 8 of his 10 3-pointers and likewise had eight rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 30 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the Celtics, who led by 44 within the third quarter and by 49 within the fourth. Boston has a 21-1 document all-time when Tatum and Brown every rating no less than 30 factors in the identical sport.
Al Horford added 14 factors and Marcus Smart had 10 factors and eight assists for the Celtics.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 24 factors and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes. After scoring 51 factors in opposition to Indiana on Wednesday, Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday was restricted to 6 factors in 24 minutes in opposition to Boston.
The Bucks had a 21-20 lead halfway via the primary quarter, however the Celtics dominated the remainder of the primary half. Boston held a 34-26 lead after one quarter and used a 13-0 spurt to extend its result in 52-30 with 6:42 remaining within the second quarter.
Boston’s benefit was 70-40 after Horford made a 3-pointer with 47.1 seconds left within the half. It was 75-47 at halftime.
The Celtics made 12 of their 23 3-point makes an attempt within the first half. Milwaukee was 3-of-22 taking pictures from behind the arc within the half.
Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton left the courtroom and went to the locker room with 7:54 remaining within the third quarter after Brown hit him within the mouth along with his elbow whereas driving to the basket. Middleton didn’t return to the sport and completed with 13 factors.
Milwaukee’s Thanasis Antetokounmpo was ejected with 1:25 remaining for head-butting Blake Griffin.
