The Boston Celtics couldn’t repeat their 118-point explosion Tuesday night. Fortunately, they didn’t need to.
Boston’s defense stepped to the forefront at BMO Harris Bradley Center, holding the Milwaukee Bucks to 83 points while forcing them to commit 17 turnovers in a 99-83 win.
Isaiah Thomas led a balanced scoring attack for Boston with 20 points, while Jared Sullinger recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Greg Monroe paced Milwaukee with 17 points and 14 boards.
The Celtics fell behind early but outscored the Bucks 53-41 in the second half to earn the win. They did so without the services of Avery Bradley, who left the game in the first half with a bruised left leg and did not return.
STARTING FIVE
Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Jared Sullinger, Amir Johnson
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Defense was the story in Milwaukee, but several Celtics enjoyed solid nights offensively.
Boston only had one 20-point scorer but placed six players in double figures, as Crowder scored 12 points while Kelly Olynyk, David Lee, Sullinger and Evan Turner all tallied 11.
The Celtics also got another very productive night out of their bench despite usual super-sub Thomas getting the start. Boston’s reserves tallied 48 points to the starters’ 51.
FAILURE TO LAUNCH
After coming out firing last Friday night, Boston’s starting unit had all sorts of trouble out of the gate.
The Celtics’ Marcus Smart-less starting five couldn’t get off the ground, committing five turnovers through the first six-plus minutes of action and falling in a 17-6 hole before head coach Brad Stevens mixed things up. Here’s one of those cough-ups:
SECOND UNIT SOARS
Everything changed once the Celtics started making substitutions. Boston’s second unit came on strong to end the quarter, tying the score at 24-24 after one frame thanks in part to Olynyk, who scored seven points over the last five minutes of the first.
The Celtics’ bench kept the momentum going into the second quarter, getting contributions from the likes of Lee, Turner and even Jonas Jerebko to enter halftime with a four-point lead.
GRAND THEFT MILWAUKEE
The Celtics entered Tuesday averaging 11.8 steals per game, the best rate in the NBA. Apparently that’s no aberration.
Boston’s defense was stifling again Tuesday night, forcing 17 Bucks turnovers while picking Milwaukee’s pockets 11 times. Several of those steals came in the third quarter, allowing the Celtics to rip off a 14-0 run and open up a comfortable double-digit lead.
Turner and Crowder — who leads the NBA in steals — each recorded four steals on the night.
PLAY OF THE NIGHT
No, it didn’t count, but this shot by Turner was nuts:
UP NEXT
More basketball! The Celtics will complete their first back-to-back of the 2015-16 season Wednesday night when they return to TD Garden to take on Paul George and the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 p.m. ET.
