The Boston Celtics no match for Milwaukee in game two
The Boston Celtics’ worst-case scenario came to be on Tuesday night. They went cold in the third quarter and allowed the Bucks to run away with the game. Now the series heads back to Boston all knotted up at one game apiece.
Tuesday night was not Boston’s night. Not by a long shot. After shocking many in a dominant game one performance, the Bucks came roaring back with a 21-point win that wasn’t even as close as the final score made it seem.
For Milwaukee, it was the stars that shined. Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Khris Middleton shot the lights out, drilling seven of his 10 attempts from beyond the 3-point line.
As a team Milwaukee hit 20 3-pointers, good for a franchise record. Boston had no answer for their shooting and really didn’t have any answers in general in the third quarter. During the frame, they let up a game-sealing 22-2 run. It was a wrap after that.
The Celtics essentially became the worst version of their regular season struggles. During that nightmarish third, the team’s ball movement slowed to a halt and the team’s many options decided to take turns playing hero-ball.
That Irving’s four assists led the team is damning. The Celtics didn’t share the ball, they lost the turnover battle and they gave the Bucks the opportunity to make this a series.
More from Hardwood Houdini
- Boston Celtics’ two-way contract decision will be made after training camp
- Proposed trade sends Boston Celtics playoff killer to the Cs from rival
- ‘Face of Germany’s stunning run’ in FIBA World Cup not the only ex-Boston Celtics player to win gold
- Proposed Boston Celtics trade target pitched for reunion with fired coach
- Battle For Banner 18: Will Boston Celtics battle historical foe in 2024 Finals?
Taking game one was huge for Boston. It made game two less of a must-win. For a team that has, at times, crumbled under expectations this season, it was important for them to take the pressure off for Tuesday’s game.
That being said, a win would have put the Celtics firmly in the driver’s seat as the series shifts to Boston. Now the momentum is firmly with a Bucks team that found its shooting touch. The playoffs are a game-by-game entity, but confidence is key for a Bucks team that has yet to make a deep playoff run.
Looking ahead, Boston needs to focus on moving the ball and making life tough for the Greek Freak. Not only that, but they need to close out on defending the 3-point line. Allowing an all-star in Middleton to get so many good looks is damning to their chances. You could live with Brook Lopez magically becoming a 7-foot Klay Thompson. Middleton, on the other hand, is Milwaukee’s main perimeter threat.
Offensively, they need more from Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum. Tatum, in particular, was bad (2-10 from the field). If the Celtics have any hopes of winning, they need to clamp down defensively and hope their stars can snap out of their game two malaise.
Those answers will come Friday when the TD Garden hosts a pivotal game three.