SB Nation Boston - Bucks 99, Celtics 94: Milwaukee holds off Bostonhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-12-21T22:21:16-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/35577852012-12-21T22:21:16-05:002012-12-21T22:21:16-05:00Bucks 99, Celtics 94: Milwaukee holds on late
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<p><span>Paul Pierce</span> had 35 points and 12 rebounds as the Boston Celtics fell to the Milwaukee Bucks, 99-94, Friday night at TD Garden in Boston, MA.</p>
<p>Milwaukee entered the third quarter trailing by only three after cutting a 10-point lead to make it a ballgame entering the second half.</p>
<p>Boston and the Bucks would trade baskets throughout most of the third quarter as <span>Monta Ellis</span> scored eight of his 19 in the game to keep Milwaukee close.</p>
<p>But the Celtics closed the quarter on a 10-2 run to open a 70-62 lead entering the fourth. <span>Rajon Rondo</span> had two steals as <span>Jeff Green</span>, Paul Pierce and <span>Courtney Lee</span> all came up huge in the stretch.</p>
<p>The Bucks refused, yet again, to let the game get away though, scoring nine points in the first three minutes to make it a one-possession game early in the final frame.</p>
<p>Just as the Celtics looked like they were letting this one slip away, Pierce took one more step into the time machine, putting together the epitome of a Paul Pierce sequence of events.</p>
<p>Pierce hit back-to-back threes, including a steal on the defensive end in less than a minute to cut the Milwaukee lead to one. Pierce would miss his next two shots, but Ellis would answer with a runner in the lane to push the Bucks lead to three late. A <span>Larry Sanders</span> poster dunk over <span>Kevin Garnett</span> advanced the Milwaukee lead to six and it looked like the game was over.</p>
<p>But Boston never gave up.</p>
<p>Behind two free throws from Pierce, a beautifully-designed play that led to a Green dunk and a Pierce trey, the Celtics came back to tie the score, using a 7-0 run in the last 30 seconds to send the game into overtime.</p>
<p>Whatever offense Boston mustered in the last 30 seconds of regulation disappeared in overtime. Rondo's layup at the 3:58 mark was the only score of a Celtics player, while the Bucks' Ellis made it a two-possession game late in overtime.</p>
<p>After a Pierce two, the Bucks had three players under the basket and somehow fumbled the ball back to Boston, leading to Garnett for two and a tie game.</p>
<p>Milwaukee would knock their free throws down, and with the Bucks leading by three in the final seconds, Pierce missed a trey that could have tied it, allowing Sanders to score in transition and walk away with the win.</p>
<p>Ellis had 27 points to lead Milwaukee, while <span>Brandon Jennings</span> notched 12 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on the night.</p>
<p><span>Jason Terry</span> struggled from the field, shooting 1-of-15 for four points in 32 minutes for the Celtics.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Green had an outstanding night on the floor. Green scored 14 points, had four steals, three rebounds, two blocks and two assists off the bench. In the final seconds of overtime, while going up for a rebound, Green received an errant elbow to the side of the face. He was down for several minutes and eventually was escorted to the back.</p>
<p>For the first time since 2005-06, the Bucks took a season series from the Celtics, 3-1.</p>
<p>The loss also breaks a streak of five-consecutive wins at home for Boston.</p>
<p>Boston starts off a four-game road trip Tuesday, when they travel to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Christmas Day to face off against <span>Deron Williams</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> at 12:00 pm ET.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 12.21.2012 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>OT 1</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> </span></td>
<td>94</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>11</td>
<td class="highlight">99</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></td>
<td>94</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>6</td>
<td class="highlight">94</td>
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<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, check out our team blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com" target="_blank">Celtics Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/12/21/3794014/celtics-vs-bucks-nba-final-score-2012-paul-pierce-jeff-green-monta-ellis-brandon-jenningsRaj Prashad2012-12-21T20:39:49-05:002012-12-21T20:39:49-05:00Celtics 46, Bucks 43: C's holding strong at half
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<p><span>Paul Pierce</span> had 17 points in the first half as the Boston Celtics lead the Milwaukee Bucks, 46-43, Friday night at TD Garden in Boston, MA.</p>
<p>Boston got back on track with their fifth-straight home win Wednesday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>, but needed to continue their uplifting play after such a frustrating road trip.</p>
<p>The Celtics opened the game by missing their first six shots before they got rolling. Boston's defense stifled the Milwaukee duo of <span>Brandon Jennings</span> and <span>Monta Ellis</span>, who combined three of the Bucks' seven combined turnovers in the quarter.</p>
<p>Pierce got it going early, scoring 13 points in his first game after dropping 40 Wednesday night. <span>Jeff Green</span> was also outstanding for the Celtics in the quarter, scoring six points and grabbing three steals to give Boston an energy boost off the bench.</p>
<p>Boston used a 12-1 run to close the quarter, and led 25-17 after one.</p>
<p><span>Kevin Garnett</span>, <span>Jared Sullinger</span> and Green were all subbed out just minutes into the second quarter and the Boston lead was promptly cut into by Milwaukee. The Bucks used a 9-2 run to cut Boston's lead to three before the Celtics' defensive stalwart rejoined the game and pushed the lead back to 10.</p>
<p>The Bucks closed the half on an 8-0 run, but the Celtics still held the halftime advantage, 46-43.</p>
<p>Milwaukee attempted 16 shots from the free throw line in the half, while the Celtics only took six shots from the charity stripe.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Intermission</span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="undecided"> <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> </span></td>
<td>17</td>
<td>26</td>
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<td class="highlight">43</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="undecided"> <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></td>
<td>25</td>
<td>21</td>
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<td class="highlight">46</td>
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<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, check out our team blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com" target="_blank">Celtics Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/12/21/3793872/celtics-vs-bucks-nba-score-update-news-2012-rajon-rondo-paul-pierce-monta-ellis-brandon-jenningsRaj Prashad2012-12-21T19:10:43-05:002012-12-21T19:10:43-05:00Chris Wilcox, Leandro Barbosa sit for Boston
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<p>The Boston Celtics will play the Milwaukee Bucks for the fourth and final time of the regular season, but will be without Chris Wilcox and Leandro Barbosa. </p> <p>Even though it is only December, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> will play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> for the fourth and final time in the 2012-13 regular season on Friday night, but will need to do so without two of their rotational players in <span>Chris Wilcox</span> and <span>Leandro Barbosa</span>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveBHoop/status/282272022116061185">via</a> Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald.</p>
<p>Wilcox will not be in uniform for the Celtics tonight because of a right thumb injury that also caused him to miss Wednesday's win against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>, which was the second game of a back-to-back for the team.</p>
<p>Barbosa won't be with the team on Friday, as the guard deals with a personal matter for the time being, so he will also be inactive for the team. No further information was disclosed on his situation.</p>
<p>After Friday's game, the Celtics will have a few days to rest, recover and prepare for division foes the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> on Tuesday at the Barclays Center.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/celtics/2012/12/21/3793756/celtics-vs-bucks-chris-wilcox-leandro-barbosa-injuryRonit Shah2012-12-21T16:05:04-05:002012-12-21T16:05:04-05:00Celtics vs. Bucks: C's eye sixth-straight home win
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics (13-12) look to extend their home win streak against Monta Ellis and the Milwaukee Bucks (13-11) Friday night at TD Garden in Boston, MA.</p> <p>The Boston Celtics (13-12) will wrap up a brief home stand Friday night when they face off against the Milwaukee Bucks (13-11) from TD Garden in the the fourth, and final game, of their regular season series.</p>
<p>After dropping three-consecutive games on a woeful road trip, the Celtics got back on track, and over .500, with a win over the Anderson Varejao-less <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> Wednesday.</p>
<p><span>Paul Pierce</span> had an age-defining game, turning back father time and dropping a season-high 40 points in the win.</p>
<p>Pierce, who is the team leader in points per game with 20 points, will be relied on once again to carry Boston's offensive load while <span>Kevin Garnett</span> continues to lead the Celtics defensive unit.</p>
<p>With the previous three contests between the Celtics and Bucks being close contests– a combined point differential of 18– the Celtics will surely need more than Pierce's consistent scoring and Garnett's individual defensive efforts to get past Milwaukee.</p>
<p>The Bucks hold a fierce pair of guards in <span>Monta Ellis</span> and <span>Brandon Jennings</span>, combining for 36 points per game. With <span>Avery Bradley</span> still out, and not expected back in the lineup until January, Boston will be forced to match the duo with veterans <span>Rajon Rondo</span> and <span>Jason Terry</span>.</p>
<p>Jennings and Ellis are listed as day-to-day, but are expected to play in the contest.</p>
<p>Celtics head coach will keep his altered lineup from Wednesday night, substituting <span>Jason Collins</span> at center, moving Garnett down to power forward and delegating <span>Brandon Bass</span> to the bench.</p>
<p>After splitting the first two games and losing the third, the Celtics will aim to even the season series and extend their home win streak of six games.</p>
<p>Friday night's game tips off at 7:30 pm ET.</p>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> <br><span class="blog_link">@ <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Friday, Dec 21, 2012, 7:30 PM EST</span><br> TD Garden</p>
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<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, check out our team blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com" target="_blank">Celtics Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/12/21/3793128/celtics-vs-bucks-nba-preview-news-2012-rajon-rondo-paul-pierce-monta-ellis-brandon-jenningsRaj Prashad