MILWAUKEE, April 8 (AP) -- The Big Three were back to build a big lead, but the Boston Celtics' reserves coughed it up and had to come back in overtime for a 107-104 victory over Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Eddie House's 3-pointer gave Boston a lead with 1:29 left in overtime, and the Celtics held the Bucks scoreless the rest of the way - ensuring that they didn't squander what once had looked like an easy victory.

Boston has won seven straight.

After sitting out the Celtics' victory at Charlotte on Saturday, stars Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce lobbied coach Doc Rivers to play Tuesday night. Rivers originally wanted to get them another night of rest but relented.

Garnett scored 21 points, Allen had 11 and Pierce, who returned to the team after the birth of his daughter, had 14.

The trio played into the third quarter, leading the Celtics on a 14-4 run right after halftime - including a driving layup by Allen, a dunk by Garnett off Michael Redd's turnover, and seven points from Pierce on a jumper, layup and 3-pointer.

Full AP recap

Postgame News and Notes Michael Redd’s three-pointer with 10.5 seconds left sent tonight’s game into overtime, despite the Bucks not holding a single lead during regulation. The game was tied three times, including twice in the fourth quarter. With a Desmond Mason jumper, the Bucks snagged their first lead of the game with 3:32 remaining in overtime (101-99). There were four lead changes in overtime. The Bucks outscored the Celtics 21-7 to tie the game at 87 in the 4th quarter. After the Bucks tied it, the Celtics went on a 10-2 run, but the Bucks countered with a 12-2 run to close regulation. Tonight’s dramatic win is Boston’s seventh in a row, including a 4-0 mark during the month of April. The Celtics secured a win in the season series with the Bucks. The teams split last season 2-2 and close out their series Friday with Boston ahead 3-0. A total of 12 players scored in double digits tonight, including six players on each team. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Leon Powe, James Posey and Tony Allen pulled the feat for the Celtics. Desmond Mason, Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd, Ramon Sessions, Bobby Simmons and Royal Ivey did so for Milwaukee. Kevin Garnett scored 13 points of his 21 points in the 1st quarter. Garnett led his team in scoring, despite playing the second fewest minutes on his squad. The game was dominated by dramatic streaks on both sides. After Boston opened the game with a 17-2 run (including a stretch of 15 unanswered points), the Bucks outscored the Celtics 27-15 to close out the 1st quarter. Down by as many as 15 points in the opening frame, the Bucks trailed by just 3 after one quarter (29-32). Boston then opened the 2nd quarter with a 9-2 run, and the 3rd quarter with a 14-4 run. The Bucks also went on an 11-0 run later in the 3rd quarter. Desmond Mason scored the Bucks’ first 7 points tonight and finished with 14 points. With tonight’s loss, the Bucks dropped below .500 at the Bradley Center on the season. They are 19-20 going into their final two home games. Andrew Bogut grabbed his fifth double-double in as many games, for his team-leading 37th on the year. No. 6 finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds. He also blocked 4 shots for the 11th time this season. Rookie Ramon Sessions again passed his career high with 13 points tonight. He had 9 of those points at halftime.

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GAMEDAY ARCHIVE

Highlights from Tuesday's loss to Boston

Click "play" on the video player to the right to watch highlights from Tuesday's loss to Boston. Or use the links below to watch and listen to archived video and audio.

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Locker room: Desmond Mason & Michael Redd
Game highlights
Dunking Energee!
Seniorgee!

For exclusive locker room video from tonight's game, check out the AT&T Multimedia Vault!

Larry Krystkowiak

(On coming back from a large deficit to force overtime…)
“I’m proud of it. I’m proud of the team. We had an opportunity to fold it up and we put an energy group on the floor and they battled. It’s a real strong indication of what happens if you put some (energy) guys out there. It isn’t always pretty with that group but it’s a lot of fun to watch, the aggressive nature. I thought we had a lot of guys who laid their hearts on the line in a situation where we could have folded. I’m super proud of them.”

(On the smaller line-up in the game down the stretch…)
“It was primarily an energy situation and a defensive situation. We went with some guys who were pretty much warmed up already and I thought we needed some size and some rebounding. I looked at the defensive assignment and I thought it probably made more sense late in the game to have (Ramon) Sessions in the game because it allowed Desmond (Mason) to match up with (Brian) Scalabrine who is more of a shooter. We went smaller towards the end.”

(On playing more defensive-minded...)
“It’s a situation where whichever five guys are starting have to come out with a lot of energy defensively. We can’t be thinking about scoring points and doing anything like that, we have to focus on getting stops.”

(On coming back to force overtime…)
“Boston overall is a great team and a great defensive team. Guys didn’t give up. I have to tip my hat to a lot of the guys out there diving for loose balls. We were down 20 but guys kept fighting and we were able to cut the lead back.”

(On his expectations for the rest of the season…)
“Personally for me, just run the ball club and try to run the team as much as I can. For a team, just go out every night and be professional and never give up. I feel like that’s what we’re doing.”

(On his three-point shot that sent the game into overtime…)
“It was a great moment for our team. I had to pump-fake Tony Allen to get the shot off. I was just glad that we showed heart tonight. We played and we showed up.”

(On coming back from behind tonight…)
“There’s no surrender and there’s no quit in our team. There’s no laying it down. We’re going to finish the season off strong and play hard and be professional.”

Photos by NBAE/Getty Images

Michael Redd

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