Late surge lifts Bucks past Celtics, into second place in East / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Credit Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday both scored 29 points as the Milwaukee Bucks (50-30) moved a half-game ahead of the visiting Boston Celtics (50-31) for second place in the Eastern Conference with a 127-121 (36-29, 33-30, 33-38, 25-24) win on Thursday.

Player of the Game EFF 30 Jrue Holiday Points 29 Accuracy 10-19 Rebounds 8 Assists 8

Milwaukee (50-30) led much of the way thanks to advantages of 58-34 for points in the paint, 14-5 on second-chance points and 19-9 on fast breaks -- a byproduct of the Bucks forcing the Celtics into 15 turnovers.

Boston (50-31) kept the game tight thanks to 21-of-50 3-point shooting.

The Celtics' Marcus Smart stepped up with teammate Jayson Tatum (knee) on the sideline, scoring 19 of his 29 points in the second half. Smart shot 7 of 12 from 3-point range.

After trailing by 13 points, Boston pulled ahead with 4:25 remaining when Smart sank a 3-pointer. He added a layup to extend the lead to 121-118 with 2:27 to go.

Milwaukee held Boston scoreless the rest of the way.

Bobby Portis (17 points) delivered a 3-pointer at the 2:11 mark on the last of Holiday's eight assists, tying the score at 121.

Antetokounmpo split a pair of free throws to put Milwaukee ahead with 1:31 left, and Holiday's tip-in with a minute remaining increased the gap to three.

After a lengthy delay while officials reviewed whether a missed 3-point attempt by Boston's Jaylen Brown drew rim, the Celtics' Daniel Theis missed a wide-open look at the rim.

Antetokounmpo added another free throw, and then George Hill punctuated Milwaukee's final home game of the regular season with a strip of Brown and fast-break bucket on the other end.

Brown recorded a triple-double of 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, while Theis added another 22 points in the loss.

Milwaukee is now in the driver's seat for the No. 2 seed, with games remaining Friday at Detroit and Sunday at Cleveland. Boston, up by a half-game on the Philadelphia 76ers (49-31), ends its regular season on Sunday in Memphis.

Milwaukee Bucks: Jrue Holiday 29 (10/19 FG, 5/8 FT, 8 REB, 8 AST, 3 ST), Giannis Antetokounmpo 29 (11/21 FG, 7/10 FT, 11 REB, 5 AST, 2 ST, 4 TO), Khris Middleton 22 (9/18 FG, 1/1 FT, 8 REB, 9 AST), Bobby Portis 17 (7/11 FG, 7 REB).

Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart 29 (10/16 FG, 2/2 FT, 7 AST), Daniel Theis 22 (8/12 FG, 3/5 FT, 5 REB), Jaylen Brown 22 (10 REB), Derrick White 10 (6 REB).

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