May 16, (THEWILL) – The Boston Celtics beat the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks 109-81 in the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday, with Grant Williams scoring 27 points and hitting seven 3-pointers. Jayson Tatum added 23 points, and Ime Udoka’s Boston Celtics set a Game 7 record with 22 3-pointers.
In a rematch of the 2020 East finals, Boston will face top-seeded Miami on Tuesday. In that series at Walt Disney World, the Heat defeated the Celtics in six games.
The Celtics fell behind early, but outscored the Bucks 61-38 in the second half to win. Boston improved to 25-9 in crucial seventh games thanks to a 54-point lead from outside the arc.
The Bucks finished with the poorest 3-point percentage in a playoff game in history (minimum 30 attempts). Still MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 25 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and dished out nine assists.
Carrying his team on his back in the second half, Antetokounmpo was only 3 of 11 in the paint, including 1 of 6 in the fourth quarter. Jrue Holiday finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Brook Lopez had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the game. Williams went 7 for 18 from three-point range as the Celtics completed their comeback after losing Game 5 at home to go behind 3-2. Boston went on an 11-4 run to start the second half and take a 59-47 lead.
Tatum headed to the bench with the score at 63-53 after being tagged for his fourth foul. However, without him, the Celtics rallied to take a 79-64 lead into the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bucks 16-11.
The Bucks led for the entirety of the first quarter, with Antetokounmpo scoring or assisting on 24 of Milwaukee’s 26 points.
He finished the quarter with 10 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, putting the Bucks up 26-20.
In the second quarter, Boston began to claw back, forcing a third foul on Bobby Portis at the 8:49 mark. As he walked to the bench area, TV cameras saw him chucking his goggles. Since developing a right eye abrasion in Game 2 of Milwaukee’s first-round series against the Bulls, he has been wearing the goggles.
The Celtics seized their first lead of the game on a dunk by Al Horford that capped a 12-2 run with Portis on the bench.
In the last minute of the half, Boston led 45-43 when Tatum was called for an offensive foul on Grayson Allen, his third of the game.
The teams traded misses after Celtics Udoka’s unsuccessful challenge. However, following Smart’s steal at midcourt, Antetokounmpo fouled Smart as he attempted a last-second 3-pointer.
Smart made all three of his free throws to give Boston a 48-43 advantage at halftime.
After missing three straight games due to pain and a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee, Celtics centre Robert Williams III returned to the lineup. However, he did not participate in the victory. But, he did not need to as Udoka’s team continues to defy the odds.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
