Jayson Tatum’s 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists powered the Boston Celtics to a 113-107 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, handing Milwaukee its eighth loss in nine games.
The win improved Boston’s record to 9-2 and highlighted Tatum’s impact as he guided the Celtics back from a nine-point halftime deficit.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with a season-high 43 points along with 13 rebounds and five assists, but his efforts were not enough to lift Milwaukee, which now sits at 2-8 on the season.
Boston’s Payton Pritchard contributed 18 points, maintaining momentum in the first half by scoring 17 before Tatum took over in the second. Jaylen Brown, back in the lineup after missing four games with a hip injury, added 14 points, while Derrick White and Jrue Holiday each contributed 15.
Milwaukee had a dominant start, jumping to a 16-2 lead within the first three minutes and maintaining at least an eight-point advantage throughout the first half.
The Bucks ended the half with a 69-58 lead, marking their highest-scoring half this season. However, they faltered in the third quarter, scoring only 15 points, their lowest in any quarter this season.
Boston’s third-quarter surge began with a 12-0 run, culminating in a 3-pointer by Al Horford, which helped the Celtics claw back into the game.
The Bucks struggled from beyond the arc, with Damian Lillard making only one of his eight 3-point attempts. Lillard’s recent shooting slump has seen him make just one of his last 12 3-point attempts, further limiting Milwaukee’s scoring potential.
For the Celtics, Horford added nine points, while Holiday and White bolstered Boston’s defense with timely steals and assists. The Celtics converted 38% of their 3-point attempts compared to Milwaukee’s 40.6%, but their strategic play and consistent defense gave them the edge in a tightly contested game.
Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis provided a strong performance off the bench, scoring 15 points and pulling down seven rebounds. Despite these contributions, the Bucks could not regain control in the fourth quarter as Boston maintained its lead through timely free throws and defensive stops.
