The Boston Celtics came out on top after a closely contested 111-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Jayson Tatum had another stellar performance, as he posted 34 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in the crucial win for the Celtics. Jrue Holiday added 20 points as Sam Hauser scored 16 points off the bench.
The win puts the Celtics at 19-4, still second in the Eastern Conference behind the Cleveland Cavaliers at 20-3. The Bucks fell to an even 11-11 record.
In a closely contested matchup with 14 lead changes, neither team led by more than eight points. The Celtics gained momentum late in the game when Al Horford hit a crucial three-pointer to make it 105-101. Holiday then extended the lead with a 14-foot floater, assisted by Tatum, with just 25.1 seconds left on the clock.
“This was a tough win,” Tatum said. “We didn’t shoot as well as we wanted, especially in the first half. But we found a way. In the second half, we hit shots and really stepped up defensively.”
For the Bucks, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo each scored 30 points, but their efforts weren’t enough to secure a victory.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic 102-94. Paul George, returning from a knee injury, posted 21 points and nine assists, while K.J. Martin added 20 points off the bench.
The Indiana Pacers outlasted the Chicago Bulls 132-123, with Tyrese Haliburton scoring 23 points and Pascal Siakam adding 21. Despite Zach LaVine’s 32-point effort, the Bulls dropped to 10-14, matching the Pacers’ record.
The NBA season continues to see the hottest battles as teams fight for an early-season position.
