It was a game featuring two teams in the east jostling for playoff position. The Milwaukee Bucks were fighting to make sure they had full security of their sixth seed. The Boston Celtics, who were on the outside looking in, just trailing the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff seed.
The first half was a grudge match, as each team scored and caused turnovers. The end of the first half saw the score at 50-52 with the Celtics on top. Bucks guard OJ Mayo had 20 first half points off the bench as he helped propel a poor scoring Milwaukee team. Mayo finished with 24 points for the contest going 9-for-13 from the field, and hitting four of his attempted six threes. Avery Bradley scored nine points in the first five minutes for Boston, after receiving the Red Auerbach award for the player who best demonstrates what it means to be a Celtic on the basketball court. Bradley had 17 in this one, but was only 3-for-7 from the three-point arc and 7-of-15 from the field.
The second half was a complete abomination for Boston. The Celtics couldn't get a shot to fall and did nothing but turn the ball over. An offensively anemic Bucks team shot 53% for the game, a number that will surely not make Brad Stevens happy. Celtics big man Jared Sullinger checked into the game in the third quarter, prompting an applause from the crowd. Sullinger was supposed to be out for the rest of the season, however, Boston had announced earlier in the day that he would in fact be available for this game and that his foot was completely healed. Sullinger didn't play much at all, but he looked pretty good for the time that he was out on the court. It didn't make much of a difference however, as Boston dropped the third quarter 36-23 and were behind 75-86 heading into the final frame.
Boston could not put together a solid defensive performance and it led to their demise, eventually falling to Milwaukee 110-101. Every run made by Boston was thwarted due to their lack of defensive production. Boston now slips behind Miami for the final playoff spot in the east.
Turnovers: Milwaukee-18 Boston-16
Team Assists: Milwaukee- 31 Boston- 19
Steals: Milwaukee- 10 Boston- 7
High Scorers: Milwaukee- OJ Mayo (24) Boston- Isaiah Thomas (23)
Both teams will meet again for the final game of the season on the Bucks home floor. Boston will go up to Toronto to play the Raptors Saturday at 7:30 PM ET, while Milwaukee will be at home against Orlando Saturday night at 8:30 PM ET.