Keys to the Recreation: Bucks 135, Celtics 102 – NBA.com

No must beat across the bush. Thursday was not Boston’s evening.
The C’s, not-so-fresh off a grueling extra time victory over the Timberwolves in Boston one evening prior, merely didn’t have something within the tank once they took the courtroom in Milwaukee. They struggled from the opening tip, lacking open shot after open shot, and the Bucks took full benefit.
Milwaukee shot a powerful 65.2 p.c from the sphere in the course of the opening body – virtually double Boston’s proportion of 34.6. Add these two numbers up, and an unsightly evening was within the works for the Celts.
From the 1:54 mark of the opening quarter to the 8:02 mark of the second body, Milwaukee rattled off 25 straight factors to drag forward by 33. Whereas Boston didn’t give up, it by no means put a dent into the deficit and headed into the locker room down 37 factors. That’s when the white flag formally went up. Joe Mazzulla made the choice that he would relaxation all of his starters, 4 of whom had logged between 40 and 44 minutes the evening earlier than, for the rest of the sport.
Boston’s reserves performed onerous for the remainder of the evening but in addition didn’t put a dent into Milwaukee’s lead. The Bucks closed the evening out with a 135-102 win.
Payton Pritchard is usually prepared when his quantity known as. Such was the case once more Thursday evening, regardless of the unlucky circumstances.
With the Celtics down large in Milwaukee, head coach Joe Mazzulla gave the reserves the beginning for the second half and prolonged run over the ultimate two quarters. Pritchard wound up logging a team-high 31 minutes that featured robust all-around basketball.
The speedy level guard took benefit of the chance by tying his season excessive with 21 factors. It marked the third time this season that he’s reached that quantity. Pritchard acquired there because of a 6-for-13 taking pictures evening from the sphere, and a profession excessive seven made free throws. He made all seven of his makes an attempt from the charity stripe.
Whereas main the crew in scoring, Pritchard additionally tied for the crew’s prime marks in each rebounds (4) and assists (4).
“I simply thought it was in the very best pursuits of our crew, simply the best way the sport was going. I believed that is what was finest for everyone.”
– Joe Mazzulla on resting his starters for your complete second half
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