Celtics Beat Bucks 99-83
MILWAUKEE -- A 16-0 third-quarter run propelled the Boston Celtics to an easy 99-83 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Guard Isaiah Thomas scored 20 points to lead the Celtics, who also got 12 from forward Jae Crowder and 11 from center Jared Sullinger.
David Lee added 13 and Kelly Olynyk had 11, sparking a Boston bench that wore down the short-handed Bucks, who were without their starting backcourt of Michael Carter-Williams and O.J. Mayo.
The Celtics' reserves combined for 48 points compared to just 25 for Milwaukee, which got 12 points from reserve guard Jerryd Bayless.
Center Greg Monroe led Milwaukee with 17 and 14 boards. Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo added 16 but was limited in the second half after quickly picking up a fourth foul.
Turnovers were costly for the Bucks, who had 18 for the game compared to just 14 assists on 41.1 percent shooting.
Three Boston turnovers fueled an 8-0 Bucks run to start the game and Monroe hit all five of his first quarter shots to put Milwaukee up by as many as 12 before the Celtics rallied and tied the game up at 24-all.
Boston's bench led the comeback and also propelled the Celtics to a 35-27 lead early in the second and a 46-42 lead at halftime.
The Celtics shot 44 percent and hit only 7 of 30 3-pointers but scored 21 points off Milwaukee's miscues and out-rebounded the Bucks, 45-41.
Celtics shooting guard Avery Bradley sat out the second half with a bruised left leg.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Bucks while Boston moved to .500 (3-3) after winning consecutive games for the first time this season.
NOTES: PG Michael Carter-Williams (ankle) and SG O.J. Mayo (hamstring) did not dress for Milwaukee. Carter-Williams missed four straight games while Mayo has yet to appear in a game this season. ... PG Marcus Smart practiced Monday but was still feeling pain in his left big toe and did not travel with the Celtics to Milwaukee and missed his third straight game. ... Boston F Jae Crowder was available and in the starting lineup Tuesday. Crowder, who played collegiately in Milwaukee for Marquette, suffered a bone bruise on his left knee last Friday against the Wizards. ... Milwaukee's four-game winning streak, which ended Tuesday, was the Bucks' longest since winning four in a row last February.
