KEY POINTS
- Payton Pritchard scored 25 points to lead Boston to a dominant 108-81 road victory.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a 15-game absence, recording 19 points and 11 rebounds.
- Rookie Hugo González posted career highs with 18 points and 16 rebounds in a breakout start.
The Boston Celtics delivered a clinical performance on Monday night to spoil the highly anticipated return of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Playing at Fiserv Forum, the Celtics secured a 108-81 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks despite missing key starters. The win marks Boston’s third consecutive victory and their seventh in the last eight games. Milwaukee remains in a difficult position as they struggle to climb into the Eastern Conference play-in picture.
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the starting lineup after missing five weeks with a right calf strain. The two-time MVP was limited to 25 minutes of action as the Bucks coaching staff managed his workload. He finished the night with 19 points and 11 rebounds but could not overcome a stagnant Milwaukee offense. The Bucks shot just 36.5 percent from the field and failed to score more than 23 points in any quarter.
Boston faced its own roster challenges with All-Star Jaylen Brown sidelined due to illness and center Neemias Queta resting. In their absence, guard Payton Pritchard stepped into a primary scoring role and finished with 25 points. Pritchard also contributed nine assists to help the Celtics maintain a fluid offensive rhythm. His scoring surge in the second half prevented any serious comeback attempt from the home side.
The standout performance of the evening came from Celtics rookie Hugo González, who made just his third career start. The 2025 first-round pick recorded career highs with 18 points and 16 rebounds to dominate the interior. González sparked a decisive 24-5 run that spanned the first and second quarters, giving Boston a permanent lead. His energy on the glass allowed the Celtics to finish with a significant 51-37 rebounding advantage.
Derrick White provided steady veteran leadership for the Celtics, matching González with 18 points of his own. White balanced his scoring with nine assists and disciplined perimeter defense against the Milwaukee backcourt. Recent acquisition Nikola Vucevic also made his first start for Boston, contributing 10 points and five rebounds. The team’s depth proved superior even without their leading scorers available for the matchup.
Milwaukee struggled to find secondary scoring options as the Celtics’ defense tightened throughout the second half. Bobby Portis and Ousmane Dieng were the only other Bucks players to reach double figures in the scoring column. The loss is the third straight for Milwaukee, with all three defeats coming by a margin of at least 23 points. This trend raises concerns for a team fighting to secure a tenth consecutive playoff berth.
The Celtics utilized a balanced attack that saw them connect on 20 three-pointers during the contest. This outside shooting pressure forced the Bucks’ defense to stay extended, creating lanes for González and Vucevic inside. Boston led by as many as 22 points in the first half and never trailed after the opening quarter. A 15-0 run in the third period effectively ended any hope for a Milwaukee rally.
Both teams will return to home soil for their next fixtures on Wednesday night. Boston is scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets, while Milwaukee welcomes the Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks will focus on reintegrating Antetokounmpo while searching for more offensive consistency from their supporting cast. For the Celtics, the focus remains on maintaining their elite defensive standards as they chase the top seed in the East.
