NBA: Celtics win game 5 at Smart Returns

The Boston Celtics have again taken the lead in the series with the Milwaukee Bucks. In game 5, both teams had major problems attacking, with the hosts scoring slightly better from outside. Boston finally won a tough game 92:87 (BOXSCORE). Boston thus leads the series 3:2.

Marcus Smart was available again for Celtics, but did not start at first. Nevertheless, there was a change in the starting five for the Celtics: Semi Ojeleye (first NBA start) started for Aron Baynes, but Al Horford moved up to five. However, it remained tight, both teams did not give each other anything. It got really loud when Smart got his first minutes and promptly got the first steal by dive in real smart manner, a little later he blocked an alley-op-dunk of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks seemed impressed, Boston led by 23:15 after a quarter.

But as so often in the series the break in the game of Celtics followed. The Bucks now put Khris Middleton in good positions (mostly in a mismatch against Shane Larkin), but otherwise no other guest player radiated danger, also because Giannis took a long break. But even with the Greek, little came together, while the Celtics were now playing open threesomes, sinking Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown into a double-digit lead (43:29). As a result, the hosts cooled down aver, Milwaukee took advantage of this and was able to reduce the gap a bit until the break (48:37).

It got a little hotter. Terry Rozier and Eric Bledsoe gave little pushers away from the ball before Bledsoe pushed the Celtics Guard a bit harder towards the audience. There was a T for Rozier and a flagrant foul for the Bucks Guard. But the visitors fought their way back into the game with a strong defense, Shabazz Muhammad (11 points in the third quarter) narrowed to four points. However, this was short-lived, Boston countered with a 7-0 run and reestablished a double-digit lead that lasted until the end of the quarter (72:61).

But Milwaukee was still involved. Parker got 3 offensive rebounds within a very short time, the Celtics lead melted down again. The Bucks now came to the free-throw line more often and played superior defense. However, the offense was too focused on individual actions, and Boston further understood that Giannis had to give up the ball.

On the other hand, the Celtics found their way back to the basket, Brown set the score to 84:77 at 1:50 on the clock. Middleton shortened by jumper, but shortly afterwards missed an open threesome, which would have brought the bucks up to two points. With a little luck, the Celtics could put the lid on when Smart almost lost the ball, but the spalding somehow landed at Horford, who extended his lead to 7 points 28 seconds before the end by dunking. Middleton shortened from a distance again, but Rozier finally brought the game home from the line.

Rozier scored 16 points, while Horford (22, 14 rebounds) was the Celtics’ best scorer with his double double. Brown contributed 14 points and Smart scored 9 points, 4 assists and 3 blocks. At Milwaukee, Middleton (23, 9/21 FG), Antetokounmpo (16, 10 rebounds, 9 assists), Bledsoe (16, 5/15 FG) and Parker (17, 8 rebounds) were the best options.

The Celtics are leading the series with 3-2 and can already make it to the Conference Semifinals in the night on Friday.

Boston Celtics v Milwaukee Bucks 92:87, series 3:2 (BOXSCORE)

Al Horford. Every Celtics player had his ups and downs, Big Al made no exception with his 6 ball losses. But in the important moments he was there, especially his two threesome finished smaller runs of the bucks. As he had less to worry about Giannis, Horford could give more of the cleaners in the defense and was always on the spot when doubling. 14 rebounds are also a playoff-career high in the Celtics jersey.

Eric Bledsoe. As in the first two games in Boston, the playmaker seemed uninspired. The Celtics rejoiced over every midranger he took and didn’t really hit. He stopped the ball too often in the already stagnant offense of the Bucks. Defensive also with great weaknesses against Terry Rozier, partly non-existent help and some sleepy cuts, which gave Boston some easy points.

The start of Ojeleye should relieve Horford in particular, who no longer defended against Antetokounmpo. Horford gave his team rebounding and scoring instead. Already in the first minutes he repeatedly attacked Tyler Zeller, who was clearly inferior to the mobile Big. Another side effect was that Baynes now acted more against Thon Maker and the Second Unit and pushed the Southern Sudanese around. The Bucks reacted in the second quarter and you could see Giannis for a longer time on the five, and Maker started the second half for Zeller and finished the game as well.