Kemba Walker scored 32 points and the Boston Celtics scored 74 second half points Wednesday night to rally past the Milwaukee Bucks 116-105 at TD Garden in Boston.
Milwaukee (2-2) led by 16 in the opening quarter and built the lead to as many as 19 early in the second quarter when Pat Connaughton buried a three-pointer. The guests held a 16 point halftime lead. The Bucks still led by 15 on a driving layup by Eric Bledsoe five minutes into the third quarter when Boston (3-1) would make a run. Jayson Tatum made a block on one end and then buried a three-pointer on the other to give the Celtics their first lead since 2-1 in the first minute of play making it 77-76 with less than a minute to play in the quarter. The hosts ended the quarter on a 26-7 run to lead by four points headed to the fourth quarter. Milwaukee only got within three on a Giannis Antenkoumpo dunk early in the fourth as Boston went on an 8-0 run to put the game away. The Celtics went up as many as 13 in outscoring the visitors 74-47 in the second half to win their third straight game.
Walker added six rebounds and six assists to go along with his game high in points. Tatum finished with 25 points and four rebounds. Gordon Hayward had a double double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Marcus Smart also added 19 points, four rebounds, and six assists while Daniel Theis rounded out the entire starting five in double figures with 11 points and nine rebounds. Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 26 points and six rebounds. Antenkoumpo filled up the stat sheet with 22 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and two blocks. George Hill had 12 points off the bench, while Brook Lopez also got in double figures with 10.
Boston will host the New York Knicks on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
