AP

Tatum has 41, Celtics push back on Giannis, Bucks 139-118

Dec 25, 2022, 3:07 AM | Updated: 7:58 pm

Referee Jacyn Goble (68) steps between Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, and Milwaukee Bucks...

Referee Jacyn Goble (68) steps between Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) after an altercation during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

(AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)


              Referee Jacyn Goble (68) steps between Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) after an altercation during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) passes out from under the basket as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) talks to referee John Goble after getting called for a technical foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown drives to the basket ahead of Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton, back, and Jrue Holiday during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is congratulated by teammates as he comes out of the game late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drives to the basket ahead of Milwaukee Bucks guard Joe Ingles (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates after making a basket as teammate Al Horford (42) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) look on during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Referee Jacyn Goble (68) steps between Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) after an altercation during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) passes out from under the basket as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) talks to referee John Goble after getting called for a technical foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown drives to the basket ahead of Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton, back, and Jrue Holiday during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is congratulated by teammates as he comes out of the game late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drives to the basket ahead of Milwaukee Bucks guard Joe Ingles (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates after making a basket as teammate Al Horford (42) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) look on during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. (9) dunks the ball as Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams, left, and Blake Griffin (91) look on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reaches in to defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo drives against Boston Celtics forward Blake Griffin during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to shoot as Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives in for the slam dunk over Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown knocked down his shots in the fourth quarter. And then he knocked down Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Brown scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth, and Jayson Tatum scored 41 for Boston on Sunday to help the Celtics beat Milwaukee 139-118 in a matchup of the top two teams in the NBA.

Tatum scored 20 in the third quarter, when the Celtics turned a one-point lead into a 100-86 edge. Brown took over in the fourth, contributing on defense with a pick that sent Antetokounmpo to the floor before he bounced back up and shoved Brown in the back.

“I thought I was playing pretty physical defense, nothing dirty. It seemed like it was a clean play,” Brown said. “Maybe he was a little but frustrated. He got up and threw an elbow at me, for whatever reason.”

After some jawing back and forth, Antetokounmpo was given a technical foul and went to the bench. The teams played the last 3:41 without further incident.

“There’s a difference between trying to be a tough guy and letting your opponent know that I’m not backing down, I’m not afraid of any challenge or any matchup whatsoever,” Brown said. “In that moment I was just letting him know that.”

Antetokounmpo, who fell hard on his hand on Friday night but was cleared to start, scored 27 points with nine rebounds. Asked about his team’s ability to limit the damage done by Antetokounmpo, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said, “Limiting’s crazy. He had 27.”

“He’s a great player,” he said, “and you’ve got to be disciplined against him.”

Jrue Holiday scored 23 for Milwaukee, which lost a third straight game for the first time this season. The Celtics have also struggled lately, losing five of six before winning back-to-back games.

Still, Boston (24-10) has the best record in the league, followed by Milwaukee (22-11).

“Obviously, we lost to them last year in the playoffs and we’ve had battles with them since I’ve gotten to Milwaukee,” said Bucks forward Pat Connaughton. “So they’re two teams that are very familiar with each other.”

“But it’s also December 25th. The NBA season is a long season, and we will be a much better basketball team by the end of this year than we are right now,” he said. “And I’m sure they will be, too.”

The Celtics led by 10 in the first quarter and 11 in the second, when Antetokounmpo fired back-to-back bricks from 3-point range and in the middle got dunked on by Jayson Tatum.

Their lead was down to one point, 62-61, before Bobby Portis fouled Brown on a desperation 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. Brown missed all three free throws; he missed another in the third quarter before hitting the second and finished 2 for 6 from the line.

Boston pulled away in the third, opening up a double-digit lead that Milwaukee only briefly chipped into.

The teams met in the second round of last year’s Eastern Conference playoffs, and the Celtics won in seven games en route to the NBA Finals. It’s their first meeting since then. Last Christmas in Milwaukee, the Bucks beat Boston 117-113.

TIP-INS

Antetokounmpo hurt his hand after a foul against the Nets on Friday night. X-rays were negative. … Connaughton, a native of nearby Arlington, Massachusetts, made his first start of the season and scored 15. … The Celtics made five of their first six 3-point attempts. … Khris Middleton sat out his fifth straight game with a knee injury. He also missed the first 20 games of the season. … Sam Hauser banked in a long 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer off an inbounds pass with 1.7 seconds left. … Derrick White hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter. He had missed 15 straight over six games.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Visit Bulls on Wednesday night.

Celtics: Host Rockets on Tuesday night.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Tatum has 41, Celtics push back on Giannis, Bucks 139-118