Reserves give it their best shot
But Boston outlasts them to clinch No. 1 spot in playoffs
BOSTON – The reserve Bucks gave a topnotch effort in the regular-season finale against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden.
Despite playing without four key players who stayed home to rest for the Eastern Conference playoffs, Milwaukee stayed close for 31⁄2 quarters before dropping a 112-94 decision to the Celtics, who were able to secure the No. 1 seed in the East.
Cleveland lost to Toronto at home in its season finale, so Boston would have clinched the top spot even if had dropped the game.
Now the sixth-seeded Bucks will look forward to the playoffs and a first-round matchup with third-seeded Toronto. Game 1 is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Air Canada
Centre.
Boston finally pulled away with a 25-2 run in the fourth quarter behind reserves Avery Bradley and Gerald Green, and the Celtics did not have to bring point guard Isaiah Thomas back in the game in the final quarter.
“Everybody came out healthy and guys were pros,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “It was a ball game. Fatigue might have set in a little bit. We got some minutes with (John) Henson and Malcolm (Brogdon). Now we have to turn the page and get ready for Toronto.”
Brogdon played 23 minutes in just his second game since returning from a back injury that kept him out for five games. He finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
“I think it’s going to help me a lot in the playoffs,” Brogdon said of the playing time. “I was sitting out for five games and I was able to get my rhythm back tonight.
“One hundred percent, no pain. I didn’t know what to expect; I’ve never had a back injury. So I just gave it as much time as possible. I just stayed the course and it ended up healing well.”
Brogdon was injured the last time the Bucks played in Boston on March 29, when he made critical plays down the stretch in a 103-100 Milwaukee victory.
Green led Boston (5329) with 18 points on Wednesday and Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson each added 16.
Spencer Hawes and Michael Beasley each had 15 points to lead the Bucks (42-40).
Milwaukee led by 13 points early in the second quarter before the Celtics rallied to take a 57-56 halftime lead,
The Bucks led, 88-87, in the fourth quarter before the Celtics went on their game-breaking run.
“There in that fourth quarter we got away from passing the ball and got into a 1-on-1 situation,” Kidd said. “Overall it was a good performance. We got guys minutes that needed to get minutes.
“I think Malcolm is ready. We wanted to get him a couple minutes right after halftime just to see how he felt. I thought he did a great job.”