POST GAME - PLAYOFF ROUND 2 - GAME 4 - MILWAUKEE BUCKS - AWAY

Celtics Wrap: Al Horford Leads The Way In Boston’s Game 4 Win Over Bucks

The Celtics outscored the Bucks, 43-28, in the fourth quarter


NESN by Greg Dudek

The Boston Celtics used a massive fourth quarter to come from behind in Game 4 and topple the Milwaukee Bucks, 116-108, at Fiserv Forum.

With the win, the Celtics evened up the series at two-all.

Check out the full box score here:

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The Celtics saved their best for last and didn’t buckle under the pressure of playing a fourth quarter on the road while facing a deficit.

After another woeful third quarter, Boston turned it on in the finale frame, outscoring the Bucks, 43-28.

Al Horford led the fourth-quarter charge as the Celtics would have been in deep trouble without the 35-year-old. Horford turned in a vintage performance to keep Boston away from the brink of elimination and scored 16 points over the final 12 minutes.

Jayson Tatum followed Horford’s lead, which allowed Boston to overtake the Bucks in the fourth quarter. Even without Robert Williams, the Celtics showed there’s no-quit in them, and they definitely showed it in spades to earn the win in Game 4.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Horford poured in a postseason career-high 30 points on 11-for-14 shooting. He also recorded eight rebounds.


— Giannis Antetokounmpo turned in a massive outing for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo posted a massive double-double of 34 points and 18 rebounds.

— Tatum rebounded from an off-showing in Game 3 as he scored 30 points and grabbed 13 caroms in Game 4.

WAGER WATCH
Marcus Smart won bettors some money with his performance in Game 4. Smart was +550, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, to record at least 15 points and eight assists and he reached those totals in the fourth quarter. Smart finished with 18 points and eight assists

UP NEXT
The series swings back to Boston for Game 5 with the Celtics facing elimination on Wednesday night. Tip-off is schedule for 7 p.m. ET.
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Horford, Tatum help Celtics even series with 116-108 victory

ESPN BOSTON

MILWAUKEE -- — Al Horford and Jayson Tatum scored 30 points apiece and led the Boston Celtics' fourth-quarter comeback in a 116-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night that tied their Eastern Conference semifinal at two games apiece.

The two teams have alternated victories in this best-of-seven series, which continues Wednesday with Game 5 in Boston.

Horford scored 16 points and Tatum 12 in the fourth quarter alone to help the Celtics outscore the defending NBA champion Bucks 43-28 in the final period. Horford's 30 points were a career playoff high for the 35-year-old veteran.

Tatum scored eight points and Horford had six during a 14-2 run that put the Celtics ahead for good and gave them a 106-96 advantage with 3:33 left. The Bucks wouldn't cut the margin below six the rest of the way.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 18 rebounds and five assists for the Bucks.

Tatum had 13 points and five assists while bouncing back from a poor Game 3, when he had 10 points and shot 4 for 19. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each added 18 points for the Celtics.

Horford sparked the rally after Boston trailed by 11 late in the third quarter.

The Celtics tied the game when Horford capped a 10-0 run by driving the baseline and dunking while drawing a foul on Antetokounmpo with 9:51 left. Horford, who normally isn't very expressive on the court, celebrated the dunk by screaming and pumping his fists.

As Horford landed after completing his dunk, his left arm hit Antetokounmpo's face, resulting in a technical foul. Jrue Holiday and Horford each sank free throws to make it 81-all.

Horford was just getting started.

After Milwaukee's Brook Lopez scored the game's next four points to put the Bucks back ahead, the Celtics responded with a 7-0 run and broke an 85-all tie on Horford's 3-pointer with 8:08 left.

The Bucks regained the lead 94-92 when Antetokounmpo hit a driving layup and drew a foul on Horford with 6:02. But after Antetokounmpo missed the free throw, Horford started the 14-2 run that put the Celtics in control.

Horford hit a corner 3-pointer to put the Celtics back ahead with 5:40 left and followed that with a conventional three-point play that made it 98-94 with 5:09 remaining. Later in the spurt, Tatum had a conventional three-point play and a 3-point basket on consecutive possessions.

The Celtics were playing without post player Robert Williams because of soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. The Bucks played a seventh straight game without three-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton due to a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka expressed optimism before Tuesday's game that Williams would be available for Game 4. The Bucks haven't given an indication on when Middleton might return.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Grant Williams replaced Robert Williams in the lineup and made his first career playoff start.

Bucks: Grayson Allen remained in the starting lineup after going scoreless in 25 minutes while making his first career playoff start Saturday. Allen scored the game's first basket and finished with seven points. ... The Bucks outrebounded the Celtics 48-38.



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UPDATE

Williams III to miss Game 4 against Milwaukee Bucks with sore knee

BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics ruled Robert Williams III out of Monday's Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks with left knee soreness.

Williams had not appeared on any of Boston's injury reports, but coach Ime Udoka said Williams tried warming up pregame and felt the soreness was too much.

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"He had some soreness today," Udoka said. "Just kind of flared up. Came out of nowhere. He didn't feel anything yesterday or during the game. It wasn't an incident. Just a little flare-up, it got irritated trying to warm up."

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Williams tore the meniscus in his left knee in late March and didn't return to the lineup until Game 3 of Boston's first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets.

Against Milwaukee, Williams returned to the starting lineup, and he has started all three games.

Udoka said that it's not unexpected that Williams would have soreness because of the surgery, and that he'd had general soreness between games but this time is more pronounced.

Udoka said he didn't expect Williams to undergo any further testing but was hopeful he'd be ready to go for Game 5 in Boston on Wednesday.

"You would expect so," Udoka said when asked about Williams' potential availability. "He's had some natural soreness. ... It's expected to calm down and he can get back out there for next game."

In the Bucks series, Williams averaged 8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He missed some time in Game 3 after getting hit in the head with an elbow from Bucks forward Bobby Portis.

With Williams out, Boston will start Grant Williams in his place.

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BIG AL SENDS A MESSAGE!

What a great gutty game we played when it counted!  If we did not have some stupid turnovers and MISSED makable shots the score would have been bigger.

I have not seen Celtic defense like this for a very very very long time!  WOW!

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Congrats to the number 1 basketball fan forum. Go Celtics!

Horford and Tatum with nice games.

Grant Williams continues to be a great relief pitcher.

Udoka has grown as a HC with smart game planning.

Hi,
With the way we started this game and how we ended it - it's day vs night. They managed to turn the game around. Very gutsy win.
It seemed like our whole team was in the mental zone where they couldn't accept a loss. Despite the tough opponent and all the refs' shenanigans.
Speaking of which. All these attempts to protect Giannis - it becomes ridiculous.
Game ball, of course, goes to AH.
I hope in the next game all our shooters finally come out of the slump.

AK

https://twitter.com/Max_Lederman/status/1523863493853814784?s=20&t=WxXFrGGXrC9Mt1zMjlPmQQ



(use link to see some premature, um,  celebrating)

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