The Celtics didn’t waste much time turning a shaky opening into a comfortable night in Milwaukee.
Boston started slowly, trailed after the first quarter, and then flipped the game with a huge second period. That 33-point quarter put the Celtics in front before halftime, and they never gave the lead back on the way to a 117-97 road win that moved them to 8-2.
Milwaukee opened with a 27-25 edge, but Boston took over from there. The Celtics outscored the Bucks 33-18 in the second quarter to turn a two-point deficit into a 58-45 halftime lead. From there, the gap kept growing.
Paul George paced Boston with 27 points and gave the Celtics the scoring burst they needed as the game tilted their way. Boston kept the pressure on after the break, piling up another 33-point third quarter and heading into the fourth with a 91-74 advantage.
Jayson Tatum had an uneven shooting night, going 6-for-19 from the field, but still finished with 21 points.
What stood out most was how quickly Boston settled in after the first quarter. The early stretch was messy, but the Celtics didn’t let it linger. Once the offense found its rhythm, Milwaukee couldn’t keep pace.
The win also gave Boston a more convincing result in the rematch after edging the Bucks 109-102 in Boston earlier in the week. This one was decided much earlier, with the 23-point final margin reflecting how completely the Celtics controlled the middle and late stages.
Boston now takes its 8-2 record into its next game Friday in Charlotte against the Hornets.
In Other News...
Celtics Wing Battle Is Creating An Early Roster Debate
Early in the season, Bostons wing rotation has already turned into one of the more interesting little debates on the roster. Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser have all been part of the mix, giving the Celtics a look at different combinations while they sort out which pieces fit best around the core. Scheierman has stood out most among the younger group with his offensive contributions, while Hauser remains on steadier ground because of what he brings as a shooter and defender.
Walsh and Gonzalez have each flashed the kind of defensive tools that keep them in the conversation, but neither has separated fully from the pack because the offensive consistency has come and gone. That leaves Boston with a real early-season decision to monitor, especially if the wing minutes continue to be spread around and the staff keeps looking for the right balance between upside and reliability. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Strong Start Is Fueling A Real Rotation Debate
Bostons 7-2 start has given the Celtics a little breathing room, but it has also sharpened the focus on how the rotation should settle in around Jayson Tatum and the rest of the core. The team has been strong at home and steady enough on the road to avoid early panic, yet the way the frontcourt minutes are being distributed is already becoming one of the more interesting decisions on the board.
The center spot in particular has become a talking point, with Neemias Queta drawing attention for the way he has fit alongside Tatum compared with Mitchell Robinson. Around that, the Celtics are still sorting out how Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez and Sam Hauser fit into the nightly mix, and there is at least one more big-man option in the picture as Boston looks for the cleanest way to manage those minutes without losing the rhythm that has powered this strong opening. [Read more 🡒]
Jayson Tatum Keeps Putting Teams In A Spot They Can't Ignore
Jayson Tatum has become one of the leagues most reliable momentum shifters, the kind of scorer who can turn a close game into a scramble for the other sideline in a hurry. Since 2021, he has consistently put opponents in the kind of spot coaches hate most, forcing immediate timeouts with made field goals more than anyone else in the NBA.
What makes it even more striking for Boston is that Tatum is not doing it alone. Jaylen Brown is right there near the top of the same list, a reminder of how often the Celtics can string together runs that leave opposing benches reaching for a reset. It also puts Boston in rare company, alongside some of the leagues biggest shot-makers, but the Celtics version of that pressure feels especially familiar because it keeps showing up when the game starts to tilt. [Read more 🡒]