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Key Moment
The Bucks made it a game Saturday night in Milwaukee. They deserve credit for that.
But when the game hung in the balance, it was the Celtics, and in particular Jae Crowder, who made the necessary plays to grab a win.
Just don’t get too excited about the description of what Crowder did to win the game for the C’s.
Boston’s starting small forward scored the final four points of the game from the free-throw line to break a 108-108 tie with 28.8 seconds left. He calmly drained all four freebies, with only one grazing the rim.
The first two free throws came after an offensive rebound by Amir Johnson with 32.9 seconds left in the game. He corralled the ball and quickly got the ball to Crowder, who was then fouled as be drove to the middle of the paint and attempted a fadeaway jumper.
The final two free throws were a bit less eventful. Marcus Smart and Johnson forced Giannis Antetokounmpo into a missed jumper in the paint with 12.9 seconds left and Crowder hauled in the rebound. He was fouled shortly thereafter and then straddled the charity stripe with 10.2 seconds later to seal the game.
Anticlimactic, yes, but those were game-winning points nonetheless. Crowder smiles and told Celtics.com that it “felt good” to win the game for his C’s in the city where he played his college ball at Marquette.
Milwaukee battled all the way back from 16 points down to force overtime. Those five extra minutes, however, belonged to Boston.
Key Player
Isaiah Thomas kinda loves playing on the second night of back-to-backs. At least that’s what his numbers say.
Thomas entered Saturday’s action having averaged 39.5 points per game during his last six games on the second night of a back-to-back. His average in that department dropped Saturday night, but not by much.
Boston’s lone All-Star dropped 37 on the Bucks while hitting 11 of his 21 shot attempts. Thomas shot 6-for-11 from long range and nailed all nine of his free throws.
Let’s also not forget that Thomas also pitched in a game-high eight assists on the night while committing only three turnovers.
And let’s also not forget that on the second night of a back-to-back, and while playing for the fourth time in five nights, Thomas recorded a team-high 40 minutes and 39 seconds of playing time.
Box Score Nuggets
- Two of Milwaukee's starters, Jabari Parker and Thon Maker, were limited to four points apiece.
- Isaiah Thomas recorded game highs of 37 points and eight assists.
- Boston scored 42 points during the first quarter.
- Six Bucks scored at least 11 points, but none scored more than 21.
- Greg Monroe grabbed game highs of 13 rebounds and three steals.
- Jae Crowder stuffed the stat sheet with 30 points, six rebounds and four assists.
- Boston's largest lead was 16 points, while Milwaukee's was just one point.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo played a game-high 45:05 despite the fact that Milwaukee was playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
- Both teams shot 42.5 percent or worse from the field.
- Both teams scored 12 second-chance points.
- Amir Johnson contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.
- Jaylen Brown led Boston with eight rebounds and he also scored nine points.
- Thomas shot a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line.
- Boston committed only 13 turnovers despite playing an overtime game on the second night of a back-to-back and while playing for the fourth time in five nights.
Quote of the Night
Jaylen Brown on the Celtics pulling out a win under difficult circumstances.