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The Boston Celtics Were No Match For The Milwaukee Bucks’ Defense And Giannis Antetokounmpo In Game 1

Game 1 of the second round series between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks went a little different than everybody expected.

After the Celtics’ first round sweep against the Brooklyn Nets, who were the heavy favorites to win it all before the start of the season, most people thought that they’d continue their run in Game 1.

But the Bucks, who are missing All-Star Khris Middleton, proved to be a different caliber of opponent for the Boston team. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo and his teammates were able to secure a pretty one-sided 101-89 at Boston’s TD Garden on Sunday, putting themselves in a good position in the series.

In a very physical game, Antetokounmpo in particular made the difference. In addition to his 24 points, the two-time MVP added 13 rebounds and 12 assists, for his second post-season triple double of his career.

The highlight was a dunk, to which he gave himself the assist, when he threw it off the backboard to himself.

The Celtics, who only connected on 10 two-point field goals – the second lowest amount of a team in NBA playoff history – never were able to really get things going. Celtics coach Ime Udoka was confronted with this unusual stat post game and revealed that 

“As we know, that’s what they want to do – protect the paint, make us shoot threes. Had some open ones, but we played in the crowd too much… obviously it shows by the turnovers…

… But that’s what they’re trying to do, to deter you from driving to the basket, and for the most part, our decision making wasn’t great.”

Since the Celtics only made 33.3% of their shots from the field, with both of their stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown having off shooting nights, they at least have an easy explanation for the Game 1 loss, and will be able to regroup and find a way out of their shooting slumps for Game 2 on Tuesday night.