Late defensive play a winner for Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks shook off any AllStar break hangover in a hurry.

Antetokounmpo scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, Khris Middleton hit a 3pointer in the closing seconds and the NBA-leading Bucks held off Boston 98-97 on Thursday night in Milwaukee.

On the second-to-last possession, Marcus Smart forced a jump ball with Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo tipped the jump to Brook Lopez, who deflected it toward the basket, but missed as the shot clock expired.

The referees huddled during the timeout and put 3.5 seconds on the clock for the Celtics.

Smart inbounded the ball over Lopez and dropped a pass into Kyrie Irving’s hands at the top of the key. With Eric Bledsoe draped all over him, Irving drove the lane and missed an awkward shot as time expired. The Bucks won the season series 2-1, their first over the Celtics since 2014-15.

The Celtics drew up a final play that put the ball in Irving’s hands.

“Kyrie with the ball. That’s what we wanted,” Al Horford said. “Get the ball in Kyrie’s hands. Let him create. I felt like we put ourselves in a good position there.”

Irving took a philosophical approach.

“It happens,” he said. “Just part of the break and coming off and playing the first game, getting the cold ones out.”

For Antetokounmpo and Irving, who had 10 of his 22 points in the fourth, it was a rematch since meeting Sunday at the All-Star Game. Antetokounmpo captained Team Giannis, and Irving started for Team LeBron.