Paul George scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 21 as the Boston Celtics overcame a slow start to defeat the host Milwaukee Bucks 117-97 on Sunday.
George hit 5 of 10 from 3-point range, while Tatum knocked down 5 of 11 from downtown and dished six assists as Boston notched its third straight win and second in four days over Milwaukee.
Kyle Kuzma scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and connected on 6 of 13 3-point attempts, as the Bucks suffered their sixth consecutive loss.
Kuzma started hot, scoring 14 points in Milwaukee’s 20-6 opening run before finishing the quarter with 16.
Boston hit just 8 of 24 from the field for the period but finished it by slashing the gap to 27-25 after Tatum spearheaded a fightback.
Tatum had 16 points, including 4-of-6 3-pointers, in the opening quarter, and George matched those figures in the second.
The Celtics turned the contest around with an 18-0 surge either side of the first-quarter break, Tatum with the last 10 of the opening period and George with the first eight of the second.
Kuzma had 21 first-half points, already eclipsing his season-high, while George had 20 as Boston led 58-45 at intermission after dominating the second frame 33-18.
The Bucks missed their first seven shots of the third as the margin blew out to 74-49 on a steal and dunk from Tatum.
Tyler Herro gave Milwaukee a scare when he left the court with 8:56 left in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on his right knee on a drive to the hole, but he came back on with 4:34 on the clock.
Up 91-74 with one to play, the Celtics rested Tatum for the entire fourth period and George for the majority of it.
While the star forwards sat, Payton Pritchard stepped up and hit three treys as Boston cruised to the finish.
–Field Level Media
