MILWAUKEE -- Boston walked into Wisconsin and turned what could have been a messy night into a statement win.
The Celtics shook off an ugly opening stretch, erased a 20-6 deficit, and rolled past the Milwaukee Bucks 117-97 on Sunday. What started with Boston looking flat quickly shifted once Jayson Tatum started connecting from deep, Paul George found his rhythm all over the floor, and the Celtics began winning the rebounding battle.
For a while, though, it looked like the wrong kind of repeat. Boston had just seen Milwaukee a couple games earlier and had squeezed out a win in that one, but this time the Celtics opened without much energy. The defense wasn’t there early, and the Bucks took advantage by stepping into clean looks from three while building that 20-6 cushion.
Boston steadied itself after a timeout around the seven-minute mark and answered with a 19-7 run to close the quarter. That didn’t erase how shaky the start had been, but it did keep the game from getting away.
Mitchell Robinson was a major reason the Celtics settled in. He was questionable because of an illness, but he played, and he played well for the third straight game.
Robinson controlled the glass, brought real physicality on both ends, and gave Boston a lift defensively with three steals and a block in the first half alone. He moved well guarding both the perimeter and the paint, even if his third-quarter stretch had a hiccup when he missed a defensive rebound and then jumped too early to give up a layup.
He answered almost immediately, though, finishing a couple plays later with a monster alley-oop.
George was just as important, and maybe even more explosive. He was on fire against Milwaukee, scoring from everywhere and making it look effortless.
Off screens, off the dribble, and with pressure on the defensive end, he put together the kind of complete performance that changes a game fast. If he keeps producing like this, the All-Star conversation in February is going to be real.
He’s been Boston’s second-best player this season, and Sunday was another reminder why.
In Other News...
Celtics Keep Sending An Early Message The East Cant Ignore
Bostons trip to Milwaukee offered another early-season reminder that this group is already playing with the kind of edge the rest of the East has to notice. After falling behind early, the Celtics settled in and steadily took control in a 117-97 road win, getting a strong scoring night from Paul George and another solid contribution from Jayson Tatum as they moved to 8-2.
The bigger takeaway was how quickly Boston flipped the game once it found its rhythm, especially over the middle two quarters when the Bucks had no answer for the Celtics pace and shot-making. It is still early, but wins like this are the kind that travel well, and Boston will get another chance to keep building momentum Friday against the Charlotte Hornets. [Read more 🡒]
Payton Pritchards Celtics Role Just Got More Complicated
The Celtics rematch with the Bucks offered a small but telling look at how Boston is handling its backcourt rotation. In the 109-102 win, the team opened with Mike Conley in the starting lineup as a nod to the veteran, while Payton Pritchard stayed in his familiar spot leading the second unit. It was the kind of tweak that does not change the overall shape of the roster, but it did underline how much trust Boston still places in Pritchards role off the bench.
Still, the setup invites a bigger question about whether Pritchard could eventually be tested in a different lane. His value as the sixth man is clear, but the Celtics also have reason to wonder what his game might look like with a starters minutes and responsibilities. For now, Boston is keeping things where they are, and that leaves Pritchard in a role that works well even as the conversation around it gets a little more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Let Another Promising Start Turn Into A Brutal Celtics Reality
The Bucks came out with a good early push, but Boston settled in quickly and turned the game into its kind of grind. Paul George led the scoring with 27 points, while Jayson Tatum, Mitchell Robinson and Derrick White all made their presence felt as the Celtics answered the opening burst with steadier shot-making and a more connected approach on both ends.
Mitchell Robinsons night stood out in particular, with a well-rounded performance that showed up in the box score and in the flow of the game. Bostons defense tightened in the second quarter and changed the tone before Milwaukee could fully build on its start, leaving the Bucks to deal with a familiar problem: a promising opening that never quite held up once the Celtics found their rhythm. [Read more 🡒]