BOSTON — The Celtics were unable to mount a fourth-quarter comeback and lost 110-101 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at TD Garden.
The loss drops the Celtics into ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings and out of the playoff picture. Isaiah Thomas (21 points) and Avery Bradley (17 points) led the charge for the Celtics, but they couldn’t overcome the Bucks’ well-balanced scoring production, as seven Milwaukee players scored in the double digits.
Here are three takeaways from Celtics-Bucks.
1. O.J. Mayo Gives Bucks Boost Off Bench
Mayo entered Friday’s game with a mediocre 11.0 points per game average, but when he’s in a rhythm, he’s able to score as well as any player in the NBA with his outside shooting and ability to finish at the rim.
He led all players with 20 first-half points on 8-for-10 shooting (4-for-4 from behind the 3-point line) in just 14 minutes. The former USC star finished with 24 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Milwaukee’s bench hasn’t been giving the team much of a lift offensively in the second half of the season, but it has improved over the last few games, and Mayo is a major reason why. Defenses always have to be aware when he’s on the floor.
2. Jared Sullinger Returns After 24-Game Absence
The Celtics announced Friday that Sullinger was cleared to play after missing the last 24 games with a metatarsal stress fracture in his left foot. Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said before the game that Sullinger’s injury had completely healed, but he wasn’t sure how much playing time, if any, he’d give the 23-year-old forward.
Sullinger made his return midway through the third quarter and was ineffective with zero points on 0-for-2 shooting and two personal fouls in 3:12 of action.
3. Dominant Third Quarter Turns Tide In Milwaukee’s Favor
The game got away from the Celtics in the third quarter. The Bucks outscored the C’s 36-23, including a 17-4 run and a 7-0 rebound advantage to start the half. Milwaukee earned a 16-5 edge in rebounds for the full quarter.
The Bucks were able to get any shot they wanted, whether it was a successful drive through the paint or an open perimeter shot after good ball movement. Milwaukee’s interior defense also was excellent, and it forced Boston to take lots of well-contested jump shots.
The Celtics did close the quarter on a good run, but the damage was done with Milwaukee entering the final quarter up 11.
Up next: The Celtics will travel to Canada for a Saturday night matchup against the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors. It’s the first matchup of a three-game road trip for Boston.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
