Celtics 113, Bucks 107: Milwaukee's magic fizzles out in overtime

Matt Velazquez
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

BOSTON - It was nothing short of amazing that the Milwaukee Bucks even pushed the Boston Celtics into overtime Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.

Unexpectedly getting to overtime isn't enough in the NBA playoffs, though. The Bucks couldn't make enough plays when it counted in the extra frame and fell, 113-107, in an intense, dramatic Game 1 that could have gone either way.

“We played well and we played hard and that’s what this series is going to be — both teams fighting," Bucks coach Joe Prunty said.

BOX SCORE:Celtics 113, Bucks 107 (overtime)

RELATED:Eric Bledsoe's playoff return marred by fouls, turnovers and misses

SCHEDULE: Bucks-Celtics series schedule, results

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Seemingly out of it multiple times, the Bucks refused to give in and turn their attention to Game 2. Down 10 points with under 4 1/2 minutes to play, Milwaukee ramped up its defense and used an 8-0 run to make things interesting. Then, with 11.1 seconds left, Malcolm Brogdon launched a three-pointer that tied the game at 96.

“It was really for Giannis (Antetokounmpo) to come off and make a play — find somebody or shoot it," Brogdon said. "He found me, so I shot it with confidence.”

Then, that whole comeback seemed to totally unravel in an instant. Boston guard Terry Rozier executed a deft crossover, shaking Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe loose and sending him drifting toward the paint. Rozier then stepped back and splashed a three-pointer with 0.5 of a second left.

Dagger. Right?

Khris Middleton had different plans.

During a timeout, Antetokounmpo, who would be tasked with inbounding the ball on a play the Bucks have been practicing for weeks for this exact moment, asked Middleton if he wanted the ball. Middleton responded in the affirmative.

Antetokounmpo obliged, looking through two progressions on the inbound before dishing a pass to Middleton, who found some room near the sideline about 35 feet from the basket. Middleton jacked up a quick-trigger three-pointer and it caught nothing but net.

It was unclear in real time if Middleton got the shot off in time, but the officials checked the replay and confirmed he had, sending the game into overtime.

Milwaukee's magic fizzled out in the extra frame, though. The Bucks held a one-point advantage through two minutes but from that point on couldn't close out possessions with rebounds or muster enough offense to keep up.

With 2:22 left, Rozier missed a shot with the rebound going directly to Bucks guard Tony Snell, but Snell couldn't control the ball and lost it out of bounds. Seconds later, Antetokounmpo fouled Celtics center Al Horford, who made both free throws to put Boston ahead by one.

Following a miss by Middleton, who finished with 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Horford missed a three-pointer. Again, Snell couldn't snare the rebound, with Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum instead getting the ball. After letting some time drip off the clock, Tatum put the Celtics up three with a reverse layup past Antetokounmpo, who couldn't adequately challenge it for fear of picking up his sixth foul.

Still, the Bucks had their chances. Down two with under a minute left, Middleton picked off a Tatum pass to start the break. The ball found Brogdon, who drove the lane only to have his shot blocked by Tatum. Brogdon got his own rebound and kicked a pass to Snell in the corner, where Snell launched an off-balance three-pointer that missed the mark.

“I was in the corner, they made a good defensive play and I saw 8 or 7 seconds on the clock, so I just took my chance to take a shot," Snell said.

With the shot clock off, the Bucks were forced to foul and Rozier made 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch to close it out.

Antetokounmpo finished with a game-high 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists before being ousted on an over-the-back call as he fought for a rebound of his own missed free throw with 14.8 seconds left and the Bucks down by three. That play came less than a minute after Antetokounmpo did the same thing, except that time the officials ruled it a jump ball.

“I don’t think that was a foul, I grabbed the ball," Antetokounmpo said. "But the refs said I grabbed his hand, so I’ve just got to live with that call and just move forward. That’s what players do. Hopefully the next time I can knock down the free throw and not get in that situation.”

As well as Antetokounmpo and Middleton played, though, their efforts weren't enough to overcome Boston's multi-faceted attack.

Horford put on a clinic in the post and made great decision after great decision on the way to 24 points and 12 rebounds. He drew multiple fouls at Antetokounmpo's expense as the Bucks all-star couldn't help but reach in.

“I’ve got to do a better job guarding Horford," Antetokounmpo said. "He’s a really big body, he’s under control, he knows what he’s doing down there. Hopefully in Game 2, I won’t play on my heels. I’ll play more on my toes and be able to defend without fouling, too.”

Rozier caught fire after halftime, scoring 17 of his 23 points. Marcus Morris had 21 points off the bench and also took a key offensive foul that erased an Antetokounmpo dunk with 1 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Jaylen Brown added 20 points and Tatum added 19 in his first playoff game.

Milwaukee's supporting cast didn't contribute in the same way. Brogdon put up 16 points off the bench and was the only Bucks player in double figures outside of Antetokounmpo and Middleton. John Henson was solid inside most of the game, finishing with seven points and six blocks.

But Bledsoe finished with nine points, five turnovers and six fouls in 33 minutes, representing his worst game in months. Snell and Jabari Parker combined for four points on 2-of-9 shooting, recording plus/minus numbers of negative-17 and negative-14, respectively. Parker logged only 14 1/2 minutes, including only two in the fourth quarter and none in overtime.

While they protected the ball well in overtime, the Bucks were significantly hurt by their 20 turnovers in regulation, which led to 27 Celtics points. Facing the NBA's top defense, Milwaukee struggled with its offensive spacing and had trouble doing much of anything in the half court.

Those turnovers came fast and furious in the first quarter, with eight Bucks giveaways leading to 15 Celtics points. Boston closed the opening stanza on a 15-0 run before Milwaukee roared back — thanks in large part to Celtics turnovers — with a 26-4 start the second quarter.

Boston's second-quarter sloppiness was an aberration, though. For the Bucks it was and has been a consistent issue. Heading into Game 2 at 7 p.m. Tuesday, it's those turnovers, missed rebounds and 50-50 balls that will leave the Bucks wondering what could have been.

"We had too many turnovers," Middleton said. "That’s not getting a shot up. We feel like if we get a shot up we’ll be good with our shots. We get great shots every time down the floor. … Also the second-chance points and the rebounds late in the game. We fell short of that. We had a couple we that we just didn’t grab and it ended up biting us.”

SERIES SCHEDULE

Game 1: Celtics 113, Bucks 107 (OT)

Game 2:  7 p.m. Tuesday,  April 17, at Boston (TNT, Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus)

Game 3:  8:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Milwaukee (ESPN, Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus)

Game 4: Noon Sunday, April 22, at Milwaukee (ABC)

*Game 5: TBD Tuesday, April 24, at Boston (TBD)

*Game 6: TBD Thursday, April 26, at Milwaukee (TBD)

*Game 7: TBD Saturday, April 28, at Boston (TNT)

* If necessary