Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game high 31 points Thursday night, to help the Milwaukee Bucks stave off elimination and defeat the Boston Celtics 97-86 in game six of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in downtown Milwaukee. The best of seven series is now tied 3-3.
Antetokounmpo shot 13-23 from the floor, and also added 14 rebounds, four assists, and two steals as the Bucks now head into Boston for the decisive game seven Saturday. The Celtics shot just 37 percent from the floor in the game, while the Bucks shot 51 percent. Khris Middleton added 16 points and five rebounds for the hosts, while Malcolm Brogdon also added 16 and six rebounds. Boston held a nine point lead at 19-10 in the first, but Milwaukee erased that disadvantage with a big second quarter to go up nine at the break. The Bucks extended that lead up to 14 in the third quarter, but the Celtics weren’t done.
Marcus Morris made a three pointer with 7:13 left to go in the game to cut the lead down to 80-78. But the Bucks got 16 of their final 17 points of the game by Brogdon and Antetokounmpo to put the Celtics away. Boston put five players in double figures, led by Jayson Tatum who had 22 points. Terry Rozier had 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris had 14 points a piece, along with five rebounds each. Al Horford also added 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
Game seven is at TD Garden Saturday with tipoff slated for shortly after 8 pm. The winner advances to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers.
