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Keys to the Game: Bucks 103, Celtics 100

Marc D'Amico
Team Reporter and Analyst

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Key Moment

Malcolm Brogdon might be this season’s Rookie of the Year. He showed the Celtics why Wednesday night.

Brogdon put together a strong performance that consisted of 16 points, nine assists and four rebounds, but it was his clutch-time play that mattered most.

The game was tied at 93-93 with less than three minutes left on the clock before Brogdon took over the game. He tallied six points and two assists from that point on.

First came an impressive driving layup at the 2:25 mark. Avery Bradley had poked the ball away from him and it trickled down to the opposite baseline before he could haul it in. When he grabbed a hold of the ball, only 12 seconds were left on the shot clock.

But Brogdon, cool as ice, took the ball up the court and quickly drove the ball to the basket. Brogdon, who is a strong 6-foot-5 point guard, went right through Bradley for a very difficult driving layup.

Boston turned the ball over on the next possession and Brogdon took advantage with another drive to the basket. This time, he flipped in a floater that swished through the basket to give Milwaukee a 97-93 lead with 1:47 remaining in the game.

Isaiah Thomas answered with two free throws, but Brogdon answered right back with a beautiful pocket pass for an assist to Giannis Antetokounmpo to push the lead back to four.

Following a free throw from Jae Crowder, Brogdon then tallied his ninth and final assist of the night on a helper to Greg Monroe. Monroe made a layup with 1:06 left in the game to provide Milwaukee with a 101-96 lead.

The rookie saved his most important play of the night, however, for the final seconds of the game. With his team leading by only one point, Brogdon hit a ridiculously difficult jumper from 16 feet out with 3.9 seconds left in the game. Bradley was draped all over him on the possession; Brogdon just hit the tough shot.

Boston was unable to score on its ensuing possession, allowing Milwaukee to hang on for a 103-100 win. – a win they earned thanks to their rookie point guard.

Key Player

Marcus Smart earned his second double-double of the season Wednesday night and was a key reason why Boston almost pulled off a come-from-behind win.

Smart came off the bench to tally a clean double-double that consisted of 11 points and 11 rebounds. He also contributed five assists, a steal and a blocked shot during his nearly 30 minutes of action.

Although the guard scored only 11 points, he created many more for the C’s through his passing and rebounding. Smart grabbed five offensive boards on the night to lead all players, and the C’s converted some of those boards into points.

As always, Smart served as a sparkplug for Boston. His energy on defense and on the glass gave the team life on a night during which its offense was truly struggling.

Box Score Nuggets

  • Isaiah Thomas, who scored a game-high 32 points, was the only Celtic who scored more than 13.
  • At the other end of the spectrum, Milwaukee had four players score at least 16 points, led by 22 from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
  • Malcolm Brogdon led the game with nine assists.
  • Thomas and Avery Bradley were both a plus-16 in the plus/minus category.
  • Both teams committed 16 turnovers, but Boston turned Milwaukee's into 26 points, while the Bucks turned the C's into only 10 points.
  • Avery Bradley (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Marcus Smart (11 points, 11 rebounds) each logged double-doubles, the only two of the game.
  • Milwaukee scored 54 points in the paint.
  • Thomas made all of his game-high nine free throw attempts.
  • Greg Monroe came off of Milwaukee's bench to score 16 points.
  • Every player who appeared in the game for Milwaukee scored at least four points.
  • Al Horford led Boston in assists with six helpers.
  • Antetokounmpo led the game with three blocks, while Amir Johnson led Boston with two blocks.

Quote of the Night

Brad Stevens on Malcolm Brogdon.