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Celtics Wrap: Jayson Tatum Carries Boston To Game 7 In 108-95 Win
Game 7 takes place on Sunday in Boston


NESN by Keagan Stiefel


The Boston Celtics stepped up in a big, big way on Friday night, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, 108-95, in Game 6 at Fiserv Forum.

With the win, the Celtics tied the series, 3-3, and forced a Game 7 back in Boston; where they will vie for a trip to the Eastern Conference finals.

Check out the full box score here:

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Jayson Tatum carried the Boston Celtics throughout Game 6, and into Game 7.

Boston put all of their trust into Tatum, and all of their eggs into the “3-point” basket on Friday. Luckily for them, it worked out.

Boston hoisted 43 shots from 3-point range, connecting on 17 to finish with a .395 shooting percentage from deep. Tatum himself hit seven shots from 3-point range, outdueling the incomparable Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Celtics’ first 15 points of the ball game came by way of the 3-point shot.


STARS OF THE GAME
— Jayson Tatum played his best game of the postseason in Game 6. Since his poor Game 3 performance, Tatum has scored 110 points for Boston, including 46 on 17-for-32 shooting Friday night. He added nine rebounds and four assists.

— Marcus Smart’s hot start sparked the Celtics offense as he went 4-for-6 from 3-point range in the first quarter. On a night where his defensive presence in the box score was minimal, Smart stepped up offensively, finishing with 21 points and seven assists.

— Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player on the planet. That’s good enough for this list. He finished the night with 44 points, 20 rebounds and six assists.

WAGER WATCH
Marcus Smart made a quick winner of those who took the over on his three point make total, cashing their tickets less than eight minutes into the game. DraftKings Sportsbook had the over/under set at 2.5 makes, with +110 odds for those who took the over.

UP NEXT
Boston got what they wanted, forcing a decisive Game 7 back at TD Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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Tatum's huge effort helps Celtics win 108-95 to force Game 7

ESPN BOSTON

MILWAUKEE -- — Jayson Tatum scored 46 points, outdueling Giannis Antetokounmpo and making sure there wouldn't be another Milwaukee Bucks fourth-quarter comeback, and the Boston Celtics beat the defending champions 108-95 on Friday night to force a seventh game in their Eastern Conference semifinal.

The third straight victory for a road team sets up a winner-take-all game Sunday in Boston. The victor heads to Miami to begin an East finals matchup with the top-seeded Heat on Tuesday

Boston showed its grit by bouncing back two nights after blowing a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 110-107 Game 5 home loss. The Bucks tried to rally again after trailing by 14 points in the final period, but this time Tatum kept the Celtics on top and kept their season alive.

Antetokounmpo had 44 points, 20 rebounds and six assists. His 20 rebounds were one off his career high.

Jaylen Brown scored 22 and Marcus Smart had 21 for the Celtics, who capitalized on their superiority from 3-point range. The Celtics were 17 of 43 and the Bucks 7 of 27 from beyond the arc.

Antetokounmpo tried to lead the Bucks to a second straight improbable comeback.

Boston led 84-70 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter and was up 84-73 when officials ruled Grant Williams had drawn a charge for Antetokounmpo's fifth foul. But the Bucks challenged the call and it was overturned on replay, instead sending Antetokounmpo to the line with four fouls.

Antetokounmpo made both free throws to start an 8-0 run that got the Bucks back into the game. The Bucks trimmed the margin to 85-81 on Antetokounmpo's 3-pointer with 8:42 left.

Tatum wouldn't let the Bucks get any closer.

After that 8-0 Bucks spurt, Tatum scored the Celtics' next 11 points. That included a fadeaway jumper as the shot clock expired to get the lead back to six plus a couple of 3-pointers.

Tatum and Brown each hit a 3-pointer during an 8-0 spurt that closed with Smart's jumper that made it 100-87 with 4:20 remaining.

Boston maintained a double-digit edge the rest of the way.

MISSING PLAYERS

The Celtics played without forward/center Robert Williams for a third straight game.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka said Williams suffered a bone bruise in his left knee while colliding with Antetokounmpo in Game 3.

Milwaukee was missing three-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton for a ninth consecutive game. Middleton sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during Game 2 of the Bucks' first-round series with the Chicago Bulls.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Tatum has scored at least 30 points in three straight games. ... After going a combined 5 of 27 on 3-point attempts in Games 3-5, Tatum was 7 of 15 on Friday. ... The Celtics were 10 of 17 from 3-point range in the game's first 14 1/2 minutes.

Bucks: A moment of silence was held before the game to honor Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, who died Tuesday at the age of 73. Lanier played for the Bucks from 1980-84, and his No. 16 jersey hangs from the Fiserv Forum rafters. … An estimated 10,000 fans filled the Deer District outside Fiserv Forum.

CREW CHIEF CHANGE

Scott Foster, the scheduled crew chief for Game 6, couldn't officiate because of an illness unrelated to COVID-19. Eric Lewis took over as crew chief with Ben Taylor working as the referee and Tre Maddox as the umpire.

112288

Happy for the win but really not happy with so many iso plays with players standing around and not cutting to the basket looking for back door plays.

As I said last games's post, we live and die with Tatum's 3 point shooting.

Game 7 WOW!

112288

Still one (very important) game to go but it is obvious that we’re the better team, even without RWIII. The Bucks biggest margin of victory is 12 points in game 1. Their game 3 win was by 2 points, game 5 by 3. We’ve beat them by 23 (game 2), 8 (game 4), and 13 (game 6). Their average winning margin has been just under 6 points, ours is just under 15. We’ve averaged 105 ppg, them, 100.5. Anything can happen in a game 7 but we should go into the game with full confidence that we are the better team and will only lose by falling into bad habits (iso ball, quick 3’s) and beating ourselves.

Horford played 38 mins today. The war of attrition is on. The Celts basically played a 7 man rotation.

Great win today. Now we need a game plan and focus on Sunday. Go Celts!

One thing I have noticed. They don't have Grant Williams hanging out looking to shoot side 3 point shots. Interesting because that is the most improved area he excelled in this year.

112288

I'll share, but I am using this one:



(Friday the 13th has meaning for me, I was born on one)

gyso wrote:I'll share, but I am using this one:



(Friday the 13th has meaning for me, I was born on one)

Good one!!!

gyso wrote:

WOW, I’m loving your Avatar!! So cool!