Paul George and Derrick White anchored a resilient Boston Celtics defense, combining for 49 points to secure a 109-102 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. George delivered a decisive performance with 25 points, including five three-pointers, while White orchestrated the offense with 24 points and seven assists. The Celtics controlled the early stages of the contest, establishing a commanding 21-point lead at halftime after opening a 22-point advantage in the second quarter. Despite the Bucks’ overall struggles, Boston never trailed through the first three quarters, showcasing their ability to maintain composure against a resilient opponent.
Boston survives a third-quarter surge from Milwaukee to extend home winning streak
Milwaukee mounted a spirited third-quarter comeback, outscoring Boston 26-12 to cut the deficit to single digits. Tyler Herro fueled the surge, scoring 18 of his 25 total points during that pivotal stretch, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. contributed 18 points. The momentum shift brought the game within reach, with the Bucks trailing by just eight points entering the fourth quarter. However, Boston’s depth proved crucial, as Baylor Scheierman provided a spark off the bench with nine points and 11 rebounds, helping stabilize the game as the Bucks pushed for a lead.
The final minutes featured a tense back-and-forth sequence that highlighted the Celtics’ clutch execution. With the score at 91-89 and 8:17 remaining, Ryan Rollins’ slam brought the Bucks within striking distance, but a turnover by George allowed Nate Ament to tie the game at 91. Ament then secured Milwaukee’s first lead of the night at 92-91 with a free throw. Despite Jayson Tatum watching from the bench and Payton Pritchard missing the final quarter due to injury concerns, Boston’s veterans managed the clock effectively to pull away, ending the Bucks’ season at 1-7 and snapping their four-game road losing streak.
Source: Yahoo Sports
