Jayson Tatum led the charge with 31 points as the Boston Celtics (55-14) edged past the Milwaukee Bucks (44-25) with a narrow 122-119 win on Wednesday night.
In the absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Celtics managed to secure their seventh straight victory.
Derrick White contributed 23 points and eight assists, while Jaylen Brown added 21 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard contributed 19 points off the bench, while Kristaps Porzingis added 17.
Damian Lillard led the scoring for the Bucks with 32 points, while Bobby Portis chipped in with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
Despite the absence of Antetokounmpo, the game showcased the intensity of a potential playoff matchup between two Eastern Conference powerhouses.
While the Bucks mounted a late comeback, closing the gap to within single digits in the final minutes, the Celtics held firm to secure the victory.
