Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley executed a spin move in the lane, lofting a jumper over Boston’s Luke Kornet before resuming his defensive stance in a crouch, mockingly holding his hand inches above the floor to taunt the Celtics center. This slight towards his teammate irked Payton Pritchard, who еᶍρlоded for 10 points in the quarter, matching the entire Bucks output and propelling the Celtics to a commanding lead before ultimately securing a 122-119 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
“It kind of lit a fire under me,” expressed the 6-foot-1 Pritchard, who contributed 19 points and six rebounds, primarily in the second quarter, when Boston transformed a five-point lead into an 18-point advantage. “He’s trying to clown one of our teammates. So I definitely took it a little personally.”
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points, capitalizing on the absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to extend the Celtics’ winning streak to seven games. Derrick White added 23 points and eight assists, while Jaylen Brown chipped in with 21 points and eight rebounds for the victorious Celtics.
Despite the matchup featuring two Eastern Conference division leaders, the Celtics hold a significant 11-game lead over the second-seeded Bucks in the race for home-court advantage. Any additional intensity in the contest was dampened by Antetokounmpo’s second consecutive absence due to a left hamstring issue.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla downplayed the significance of the game as a potential playoff preview. “Nothing’s guaranteed in life,” he remarked. “We may see them; they may see us; we may not. You never know what’s going to happen.”
The game remained closely contested early on until the Celtics surged ahead with a 21-8 run, fueled by Pritchard’s impressive performance, to establish a commanding lead of 56-38.
“Pritchard also fired up the crowd when he took an оffеnꜱιυе board away from Brook Lopez,” noted Mazzulla, highlighting Pritchard’s all-around impact on the game. “Just a winning play,” echoed Pritchard, emphasizing his competitive spirit despite facing taller opponents. “I’m just a competitor.”
Boston maintained a double-digit lead until the Bucks mounted a late rally, narrowing the gap to a single possession in the final minutes. However, clutch plays from Tatum and defensive stops secured the Celtics’ victory.
Antetokounmpo’s absence was felt by the Bucks, who struggled to contain the Celtics’ оffеnꜱιυе firepower. The Greek star, currently ranking among the NBA’s top scorers, rebounders, and assist leaders, missed five games this season, with Milwaukee posting a 3-2 record in his absence.
Despite the setback, Antetokounmpo’s impressive statistics underscore his invaluable contributions to the Bucks, highlighting his significance as a key player for the team.
