Celtics get thrashed by Bucks in Game 3, 116-92.



The Boston Celtics got absolutely roasted by the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3, 116-92. Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo both came up huge for the Bucks, per usual, and the effort from their bench, particularly Thon Maker and Jabari Parker was a huge boost for a Milwaukee team in need of a win as they combined for 31 points. Drew Eric Bledsoe finally outplayed the guy across the court from him as he scored 17 points on 8 of 13 shooting.

For the Celtics, Al Horford led the team with 16 points and Greg Monroe chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds off the bench but the team was sloppy and disjointed right from get-go.

Terry Rozier was the first to touch the ball after the opening tip and the Bucks crowd showered him with boos. Milwaukee had the crowd behind them early as they moved the ball around on offense and shot it well when they got it to the open man. The C's did there best to help the Bucks get going with 9 (yes, NINE) 1st quarter turnovers. Some shotty officiating didn't do them any favors either:


But a couple of blown calls was the least of their problems, as the Celtics shot a combined 2 for 19 in the opening frame, which, along with their near double-digit turnovers had them trailing big after one, 27-12.

Things got more physical in the 2nd quarter as the intensity got ratcheted up a couple notches. That didn't bode so well for the C's either, as the Bucks fed off the energy and continue to roll. We got a Mad Brad timeout from Coach Stevens who was absolutely livid with his team's performance to that point, midway through the 2nd and down 24 points at the time.

The Celtics' offense came alive, but the Bucks continued to score at will and the C's were only able to tread water from that point until the half, where they still found themselves down big, 58-35. After coming up huge in games 1 & 2, and totaling zero turnovers in both of those games, Rozier had himself an atrocious 1st half as he totaled more turnover (5) than points & assists combined (he had 4 assists and shot 0-4 from the floor for 0 points).


The Celtics showed some signs of life in the 3rd quarter as they rattled off a 7-point run midway through, cutting the Bucks lead to 14 in the process. Jabari Parker got hot for Milwaukee and they regained their compusure, closing out the 3rd up still by a huge margin, 85-67.

Milwaukee turned it all the way back up in the 4th as the team was unconscious shooting for the outside, burying the Celtics in the process. For a team that's done a heck of a job fighting it's way back into games, the Celtics did not have that in them tonight. They dug themselves too big of a hole in that 1st half and were never able to fully recover.

Game 4, also in Milwaukee, is this Sunday. The Celtics still hold a 2-1 series lead.


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