Giannis’ tip-in lifts Bucks over Celtics

MILWAUKEE — After seeing a 20-point secondhalf lead slip away in Game 4, Giannis Antetokounmpo came up with a huge play in the final seconds to save the Milwaukee Bucks from a devastating loss.

Eric Bledsoe passed the ball right from the perimeter on Milwaukee’s final possession. Antetokounmpo moved down low to the left side of the basket and Malcolm Brogdon came across the lane for a driving hook shot in traffic that hit the rim.

The 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo was in perfect position to reach over Boston’s Jayson Tatum to tip in the miss for the go-ahead basket with 5 seconds left for a 104-102 win on Sunday over the Boston Celtics. Their firstround playoff series is tied at two games apiece.

“It’s a heck of play,” Bucks coach Joe Prunty said.

Antetokounmpo finished with 27 points, while Khris Middleton added 23. Middleton also played in-your-face defense in the final seconds on Marcus Morris, forcing the Boston forward to miss a 14-footer at the buzzer.

The Bucks’ two best players made the crucial players to hold on for a tense victory, another sign of maturity for one of the league’s up-and-coming teams.

Game 5 is Tuesday night in Boston.

“One of the most important things that we can carry from this game moving forward is that we stayed disciplined and we trusted one another,” Antetokounmpo said.

It could just as easily have fallen apart for Milwaukee after losing a 20point lead with 7:37 left in the third quarter.

Jaylen Brown had 34 points for the Celtics, while Tatum added 21. Tatum’s 18-footer with 52 seconds left gave the Celtics a brief 100-99 lead.

He just couldn’t hold off Antetokounmpo on the other end for the decisive tip-in.

The disappointing end for the Celtics overshadowed their spirited rally from a 65-45 deficit with 7:37 left in the third quarter. Play got chippy and the Celtics limited the Bucks’ transition game.

They came up one basket short at the end.

Antetokounmpo “made a great tip-in and he was battling for the ball. That’s what great players do,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Boston’s Aron Baynes, left, dunks past Thon Maker during Game 4 of their first-round playoff series at the Bradley Center on Sunday in Milwaukee.