The Boston Celtics improved to 5-0 at home and the Milwaukee Bucks fell to 1-7, including 0-4 on the road, after Paul George scored 25 points and Derrick White added 24, leading Boston to a 109-102 win on Wednesday night, La Nación reported.
George also hit five 3-pointers and White dished out seven assists as the Celtics survived a scare against one of the NBA’s weaker teams. Boston never trailed through three quarters, opening a 22-point advantage in the second quarter and leading by 21 at halftime.
George and White carry Boston with Tatum resting
Jayson Tatum was sidelined for the first time this season, with the team listing the All-Star forward as rested. Tatum was coming off a 19-point game in Monday’s 109-93 loss to the Houston Rockets. With Tatum watching from the bench, the scoring load fell to George and White, who combined for 49 points.
Baylor Scheierman had nine points and 11 rebounds off the bench for Boston, according to boston.com. The Celtics shot 41% from three, connecting on 16 of 39 attempts.
Herro’s third quarter sparks Bucks comeback
Tyler Herro scored 18 of his 25 points during the third quarter, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 18, but Milwaukee’s best stretch still wasn’t enough. The Bucks went on a 26-12 run in the third to make it a single-digit game, cutting Boston’s lead to eight entering the fourth.
Ryan Rollins finished with 13 points, and his dunk with 8:17 remaining pulled Milwaukee within 91-89.
Late sequence decides the game
George threw the ball away coming out of a timeout, and Milwaukee’s Nate Ament raced the other way for a layup that tied it at 91. Ament then hit a free throw to give the Bucks their first lead of the game, 92-91.
Payton Pritchard missed the final quarter with what the team called a right eye abrasion, further thinning Boston’s backcourt. The Celtics’ answer came when White converted a hoop-and-harm sequence that put Boston up 102-97 with 2:22 left. Boston outscored Milwaukee 12-5 over the final three minutes to close it out.
Derrick White (11) and Paul George (9) scored 20 of the Celtics' 22 4th-quarter points
Where both teams stand now
The result leaves Boston unbeaten at home this season, while Milwaukee remains winless on the road. The Bucks’ 1-7 record is the mirror image of Boston’s 5-0 home start, a contrast that frames the two teams’ early seasons heading into their next fixtures.
Bucks host Toronto Friday; Celtics open road trip at Charlotte
Milwaukee hosts Toronto on Friday night. The Celtics open a four-game road trip at Charlotte on Friday night.
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