Celtics’ Rozier is making name for himself vs. Bucks

MILWAUKEE » Two games into their first-round playoff series, Milwaukee point guard Eric Bledsoe and his Boston counterpart, Terry Rozier, still seem to be having trouble remembering each other’s names.

Maybe it’s the sign of a festering feud with the Celtics up 2-0 as the series shifts to Milwaukee. Perhaps it’s a case of Bluegrass State bragging rights between Bledsoe, who played at Kentucky, and Rozier (Shaker Heights), who played at Louisville, though they never faced each other in college.

Or it could be just a case of good-natured gamesmanship between two competitors.

Through two games, it is advantage Rozier with Game 3 coming up Friday night.

He had 23 points in Game 2 on 8-of-14 shooting, including 3 of 5 from the 3-point line, to match his postseason career scoring high set in Game 1. Rozier is shooting 7 of 16 from beyond the arc so far this series.

So much for the Celtics being at a disadvantage at the point without Kyrie Irving, who is out for the playoffs following knee surgery.

“We’ve talked about his competitiveness, his athleticism and his work ethic being at the highest level. That usually lends to good players improving quickly,” coach Brad Stevens said about Rozier.

Irving’s absence seemed to tilt the point guard matchup toward the Bucks, especially with Bledsoe playing well at the end of the year. Traded from Phoenix earlier in the season, Bledsoe was eager for his first taste of the postseason since 2013, when he was with the Clippers.

Bledsoe is averaging 10.5 points against Boston, but the offense has been plagued in part by turnovers. He fouled out in Game 1.

“My offense will come. I’m not worried about that. I’m just worried about playing great defense and helping my teammates while I’m out there,” Bledsoe said after practice Thursday.

The bulletin-board material between the ballhandlers has become just as engrossing a story line.