Celtics-Bucks takeaway: Pritchard shines, C’s survive scary fourth quarter originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Three key scenarios
Wednesday evening at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics withstood a late race from Giannis Without Anteteokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks for their seventh consecutive victory.
Anteteokounmpo did not participate in the potential playoff preview due to a hamstring injury. Boston was also shorthanded without Jrue Vacations (shoulder) and Sam Hauser (ankle).
The Celtics led virtually the entire game, but saw their 21-point lead cut to two during a slow fourth quarter. It was an ugly end to an otherwise solid performance as they beat their Eastern Conference rival for the second time this season, 122-119.
It was Boston’s 27th straight regular season victory at the Garden against Eastern teams, dating back to March 24 of last year. He is 10-0 at home since February 4.
Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 31 points for the C’s, including 23 in the first half. Derrick White And Jaylen Brown added 23 and 21, respectively.
Damien Lillard scored a game-high 32 points, while Bobby Portis contributed 24 off the bench for the Bucks. Khris Middleton added 22.
The Celtics (55-14) begin a six-game road trip Friday night against the Detroit Pistons (12-56). First, here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s game.
Payton Pritchard brings the energy
You won’t like Payton Pritchard when he’s angry. The Bucks learned that lesson the hard way Wednesday night.
Milwaukee Guard Patrick Beverly » mocked the Celtics big man Luc Kornet with a “too small” gesture at the start of the match. The Celtics backup guard let his play do the talking by scoring or assisting on 15 straight points in Boston after Beverley’s trash talk.
Pritchard scored 13 points in the first half, but won an offensive rebound Brook Lopez and fouling the Bucks big man was perhaps his most memorable moment of the evening:
You can watch all of Pritchard’s buckets in the first half below:
Pritchard’s energy remained a factor in the second half. He returned to the game with just under five minutes left in the third quarter and immediately scored 3 points. Later, he made another choppy play, picking off an entry pass while drawing a foul on Bobby Portis.
After the match, Pritchard admitted that Beverley’s “too small” gesture had excited him.
Pritchard finished with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting (5-8 3-PT), six rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes coming off the bench. After putting up 14 points and 13 assists in 35 minutes against Washington and then 23 points and seven assists against Detroit, it was another example of the Oregon product taking advantage of his increased opportunities.
Jayson Tatum starts and finishes strong
Another night, another fast start for Tatum.
The Celtics superstar had 10 points in the first quarter – all in the first five minutes – after scoring 15 against Utah, 14 against Phoenix and 18 against Washington. He stayed hot in the second quarter, finishing the half with 23 points on 8 of 13 shooting (4-5 3-PT).
In case it wasn’t already clear he was feeling it, Tatum delivered his signature “kiss of death” not even halfway through the second quarter:
Tatum was unusually quiet throughout the third quarter and early in the fourth. His scoring drought lasted until the game was on the line.
While the rest of the team struggled to make baskets, the five-time All-Star scored eight points in the final two minutes to lead Boston to victory.
Tatum finished with 31 points (9-19 FG, 4-7 3-PT), eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. The 26-year-old has recently returned to MVP form with at least 30 points scored in three of his last four games.
Another scary fourth quarter against MIL
Even though the final score doesn’t show it, the Celtics were in control for most of this game. But just like in their first game against Milwaukee in November, everything started to unravel in the fourth quarter.
In that November meeting, the C’s held a 17-point lead with 5:40 remaining and won by three. Wednesday’s game was eerily similar. Boston led by 21 early in the fourth quarter, saw Milwaukee cut the deficit to two and won again by just three.
The Celtics went four minutes into the final quarter without a bucket. Fortunately, they managed to avoid a late-match collapse similar to their March 5 loss to the Cleveland Cavalierswhen they were outscored 34-17 in the fourth in a one-point loss.
