Giannis’ tipin lifts Bucks over Celtics

MILWAUKEE » After seeing a 20-point second half lead slip away, 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 first-round playoff series is tied at two games apiece.

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

Antetokounmpo finished with 27 points, while Khris Middle-

ton 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 win victory, another sign of maturity for the 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 20-point 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.