Celtics 101, Bucks 89 (Final)
Celtics turn it on, defeat Bucks (FINAL: Celtics 101-89)
It wasn’t easy, but the Celtics pulled away from the Bucks here in the fourth quarter and earned a 101-89 vidtory over Milwaukee tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden.
Five Celtics players (Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Tony Allen, Eddie House, and Leon Powe) scored in double figures. Richard Jefferson led the Bucks with 20 points.
We’ll have plenty of postgame reaction here from the Garden, so stay tuned.
College night! (2:44 fourth quarter, Celtics 97-83)
Joe Alexander is in the game for Milwaukee, while Bill Walker has checked in for the Celtics. Gino just did his thing on the Jumbotron. These are all signs that this game may be over.
Scal gets in (4:42 fourth quarter, Celtics 97-79)
Brian Scalabrine just replaced Kevin Garnett, giving several dozen fans chanting Scalabrine’s name their wish for the night. Garnett, presumably done for the evening, finishes with 16 points and 9 rebounds.
C’s pulling away (5:34 fourth quarter, Celtics 94-79)
Just when you thought they never would, the Celtics have opened up a sizable lead against the Bucks with time running out. Milwaukee is down to 39 percent shooting. Paul Pierce has 18 points to lead four Celtics in double-figures.
Fan involvement (8:38 fourth quarter, Celtics 87-75)
While the Celtics were pulling away, a fan in a Kobe Bryant jersey caused a stir in the stands behind the Bucks basket. The fan drew attention to himself, prompting Celtics fans behind him to chant, “Kobe ‘stinks'”. An usher escorted the Lakers fan from the stands for causing a disturbance.
Defense leads to offense (10:23 fourth quarter, Celtics 82-72)
Tony Allen and Rajon Rondo just converted back-to-back styles into layups on the other end, giving the Celtics their largest lead of the game.
Timeout, Milwaukee.
Glen and Glen (10:54 fourth quarter, Celtics 78-72)
Celtics coach Doc Rivers just took Glen Davis over to the sideline for a little instruction. The exhange was friendly and illustrative of Rivers’ coaching style. He’s constantly talking to the young players.
THIRD QUARTER
Celts still lead (END third quarter, Celtics 75-70)
Well it wasn’t pretty, but the Celtics still have a lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Bucks have four players in double-figures to Boston’s two, but Milwaukee is shooting just 41 percent from the field (but 15 of 18 from the line).
Neither team looks like they want this one all that badly right now.
Perk T’d up (35.7 third quarter, Celtics 73-68)
Kendrick Perkins just got called for a technical foul from the Celtics bench. This game has slowed down and gotten very ugly.
KG with three (2:45 third quarter, Celtics 70-67)
Kevin Garnett just picked up his third personal foul of the game, hacking Charlie Villanueva on his way to the hoop. Villanueva made the bucket. That the Celtics aren’t putting the Bucks away here when Milwaukee is shooting 43 percent is a little troubling.
Here we go again (7:01 third quarter, Celtics 61-59)
So Richard Jefferson is good again and the Celtics can’t play defense. Didn’t we see this in the first quarter?
Jefferson made an acrobatic reverse layup to bring the Bucks within two points here in the third. The Bucks are 6 of 11 in the period.
SECOND QUARTER
Celtics turn things around (END second quarter, Celtics 55-47)
Maybe it’s a product of playing a bad team. Or maybe the Celtics finally woke up. But whatever the reason, Boston played two quarters that did not resemble each other in the first half.
Milwaukee shot 50 percent from the field in the first, but the Bucks are down to 40 percent for the game thanks to an improved Celtics defense which held Milwaukee to 17 points in the second. The C’s raised their shooting percentage up to 53 percent for the game. And oh yeah, they have the lead.
Paul Pierce (10 points) and Kevin Garnett (12 points) are leading the Celtics. Richard Jefferson is pacing the Bucks with 16.
First lead, in style (4:13, second quarter, Celtics 44-42)
The Celtics took their first lead of the game in style, with Rajon Rondo finding Kevin Garnett with a nifty bounce pass on the break. KG caught the ball, took two thunderous steps, and dunked it home with two hands.
Tony Allen, just removed from the game, did a little dance on the bench as the Celtics celebrated the momentum-changing play.
House making an impact (6:06, second quarter, Bucks 40-38)
Eddie House just stole the ball from Luc Mbah a Moute and layed it in on the other end, pulling the Celtics to within two points. It took a bit, but the crowd is getting back into the game.
Bench paying dividends (7:09, second quarter, Bucks 37-34)
You know the Celtics bench is in the game when both teams start shooting more free throws. The teams combined for 7 free throws in the first quarter and have already combined for 8 here in the second.
Bottom line is the Bucks are scoring as much with Boston’s bench in the game. Unfortunately, to this point, neither are the Celtics.
FIRST QUARTER
It could be worse (END first quarter, Bucks 30-23)
Tony Allen, Leon Powe, and Eddie House finally checked in toward the end of the quarter, giving the Celtics’ starters a much needed reprieve.
We talked a lot about how badly the Celtics are playing here early, but they’re only down seven. And the teams’ shooting percentages at this point are virtually even. Not the way the Celtics wanted to start the game, but given that it happened, my guess is they can’t be too unhappy with the result.
Sticking with the starters (2:42 first quarter, Bucks 25-18)
Boston’s starters don’t seem committed to playing any kind of defense here in the first quarter, but Doc Rivers seems committed to leaving his first unit on the floor.
The Bucks have shot 59 percent from the field in jumping out to this early lead, with Richard Jefferson (14 points) being the main culprit. Despite this scorching shooting, Rivers has not yet gone to his bench. The Celtics bench players, for their part, have been on their feet rooting on the starters.
Jefferson on fire (5:39 first quarter, Bucks 19-10)
Richard Jefferson has made his first six shots of the game, the latest a three-pointer from the corner to give him 14 points very early here. The Celtics have made only 5 shots as a team. Milwaukee is 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.
Paul Pierce is guarding Jefferson, and it’s hard to remember a stretch in which Pierce has been so ineffective on defense recently.
Bad start for C’s (8:29 first quarter, Bucks 11-4)
The Celtics hit just 2 of their first 8 shots while the Bucks were 4 of 6. Not much energy in the building right now.
Man hugs (Before tip-off)
Glen Davis has taken over James Posey’s role of being the first player to give Kevin Garnett props after Garnett does his whole powder routine.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com