Already beaten twice in Boston this season, the Bucks won their revenge in pain at home during a stunning “Christmas Game”!
The Celtics took control of the entry meeting, led by a Jaylen Brown as classy as efficient (14 points at 6/7 shooting in 10 minutes) and an outside address at the rendezvous. Barely in attack, Milwaukee saved the house at the end of the first act following two drives from Giannis Antetokounmpo to return to -13 (22-35).
Boston then chained an 11-3 punctuated by two new missiles from Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard to go to +19 (27-46). Milwaukee managed to hang on, notably thanks to his soldiers DeMarcus Cousins, Bobby Portis, and two consecutive 3-pointers from Khris Middleton to come back to 42-52. But Marcus Smart and Tatum responded immediately to ensure a 15-point gap at the break (47-62).
As often, it is Giannis who had to work to get the Bucks out of the slump, aligning 9 points in a row then a 2 + 1 in transition with two throws (65-71). The 3-point DiVicenzo-Connaughton-Middleton trio then reduced the premises to -1 (83-84).
Everything still had to be done with -4 to 12 minutes from the end despite the enormous dunk of the “Greek Freak” on Juancho Hernangomez (90-94). And the Celtics were not going to let it go, as confirmed by the 8-0 fueled by former Buck Jabari Parker (90-102) and Tatum’s 3-pointers (96-109).
Blockorama in the finish
But once again, Giannis’ huge return to “money-time” changed everything. Like a bulldozer, the Greek pounded the opponent’s racket and notably offered himself two dunks and a 2 + 1 to tie at 111-111. The Bucks finally took the lead for the first time in the game 30 seconds from the end on a 3-point from Wes Matthews, while Jrue Holiday had just been countered by Robert Williams III (114-113). This same Williams, in turn countered by the immense Giannis!
Khris Middleton was then able to finish the free throw job and give his team a third consecutive major success for the rest (117-113).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The amazing Milwaukee finale. The Bucks went through a mouse hole and can thank Giannis Antetokounmpo for completely reversing the end of the meeting. Left on the bench for a foul problem, the Greek took the game on his own and took the rest of the team with him, like Wes Matthews, author of two precious 3-point baskets.
– The two faces of the Celtics. Capable of both the best and the worst, the C’s lived up to their reputation on this shock against the champion. With sequences of great accuracy on both sides of the floor. And real black holes. Boston went through two in this game, including a 21-4 to end the game that will have been fatal.
TOPS / FLOPS
✅ Giannis Antetokounmpo. In 30 minutes, the Bucks star did massive damage to the Celtics’ racket. We will remember his fierce dunks and his stunning end to the game where he only missed a few free throws on the way to reach the “perfect”. With 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, the MVP of the last Finals clearly held his place.
✅ ⛔ Jayson tatum. The Celtics winger started the game in diesel mode but then shifted into high gear, helping to maintain the lead. It was even he who landed the last arrow of the Celtics on a 5-point streak before the full black hole of Ime Udoka’s formation. His end of the match was missed, concluded by this pass for Robert Williams III when he had an open shot at mid-distance.
Jaylen Brown’s star smile
Author of a big start to the match, Jaylen Brown was forced to join the locker room at the end of the first quarter. The time to realize that he had indeed lost a bit of a tooth following a nudge … from Jayson Tatum! His teammate accidentally hit him in the face while he was struggling on the rebound with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jaylen Brown returned to the game the next quarter, sporting his brand new star smile to end the game.
THE FOLLOWING
Milwaukee (22-13): The Bucks head to Florida to face Orlando twice, Tuesday and Thursday.
Boston (16-17): The Celtics will be expected on the Wolves floor Monday night.
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