Celtics end Bucks perfect run
The Boston Celtics set a franchise record for three-pointers with 24 in a 117-113 win over the Bucks on Thursday night, handing Milwaukee its first loss of the season.
“We got a lot of open looks. We were taking what they were giving us,” said Gordon Hayward, who hit three three-pointers while scoring a season-high 18, The Associated Press reported.
Kyrie Irving led Boston with 28 points, including six threepointers as the Celtics shattered the club record of 19 and came up one short of the NBA record of 25, set by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a win over the Atlanta Hawks on March 4.
Al Horford also scored 18, hitting four from beyond-the-arc, and Marcus Morris made five three-pointers to finish with 17 points.
“It was probably a little more than we wanted to shoot, but those were the shots that were there,” said Horford, who also led the Celtics with eight assists. “We definitely want to be better, but we did a good job. I just felt like we moved the ball well. That was encouraging to see.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the lineup after missing one game while in the NBA’S concussion protocol and led Milwaukee with 33 points and 11 rebounds.
“We were all shooting really well,” Morris said. “We were just knocking them down and our guys got hot.”
Milwaukee, the last unbeaten team left in the NBA after beating Toronto on Monday night, came up just short after a furious rally in the fourth quarter.
Down 15 entering the final period, the Bucks opened on a 12-0 run and were within a point in the final minute, but the Celtics held on for their fourth straight win.
“We still think we are one of the best teams,” Antetokounmpo said. “Tonight we didn’t have an ‘A’ or ‘B’ game. Probably a ‘C’ game, but we were still close to winning the game in Boston.”
Khris Middleton and Malcom Brogdon scored 16 apiece and Eric Bledsoe had 13 points and seven assists for the Bucks.