After a successful road trip, the Celtics returned to Boston to face a familiar foe – the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee has had a disastrous start to the new season, with a 1-2 record, despite the superb play of both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. However, they would not get their season back on track in Boston, Payton Pritchard absolutely lit it up from beyond the arc and Jaylen Brown dominated in the paint. In the end it resulted in yet another comfortable win for the Eastern Conference’s number one seed.
The opening exchanges where dominated by Antetokounmpo and Lillard. Lillard scored ten of Milwaukee’s first eleven points and the Greek freak also managed to get eleven first quarter points of his own. Despite the Bucks’ duos dominance, they still needed a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Gary Trent Jr to take a lead into the second quarter.
This is where Pritchard really took over the game, he lit up from beyond the arc, which Boston massively needed to stay in the game. This was most definitely Pritchard’s best ever game as a Celtic, he had 28 points (including eight 3-pointers). The Celtics needed every point they could get from him though as the Bucks still led at half time.
Notoriously the Celtics have struggled in third quarters over the past few seasons, that was not the case in this one. They went on an 11-3 run to end the period and it was Brown who sparked it, he had a fantastic night despite his poor shooting from beyond the arc (0-4) finishing with 30 points and six rebounds. By far and away the best play of the night was Pritchard’s three to beat the buzzer. The Oregon native dribbled the ball down the right wing and nailed a step-back three, much to the distaste of Bucks head coach Doc Rivers.
It was more of the same for Boston in the fourth, led by Jaylen Brown the Celtics exposed the weaknesses in the Milwaukee defence. After a hard fought first half the game really opened up the Celtics and it resulted in a comfortable victory for the reigning champs 119-108.
After the game Joe Mazzulla spoke to NBCSports Boston about what exactly it is that he loves about Payton Pritchard: “I love his competitive nature and his ability to move in and out of different roles … he is a purist competitor”. Boston heads back on the road to face their conference finals opponent the Indiana Pacers next.
By Will C
Add comment
Comments