Apr

9

Boston Sweats Out Overtime Win Against Bucks 107-104

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers?decided to live or die with his bench bunch, as he saw his reserves blow a 15 point half time lead, to come back and beat the Milwaukee Bucks 107-104 Tuesday night. Rivers told his players at the beginning of the game that starters would play only early in the game, and he held to his vow. Kevin Garnett led Boston with 21 points.

With the number one seed clinched in the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, Rivers has made a commitment to keep his starters rested, and his reserves battle tested, This game definitely helped the evolution of the latter.?Rivers was willing to lose the battle to win the war. In a perfect world Rivers will use a 9 man rotation in the playoffs, Garnett, Allen, and Pierce, playing as minutes as necessary. But as the commercial says life isn’t perfect; injuries happen, fatigue sets in. So Rivers knew in his heart of hearts he could not bring back in the “Elite Three” even though they were begging to, while the lead dissipated.

Boston?had a slight lead at the end of the first quarter as both teams shot well, the Green Team led 32-29. The Celtics pulled away in the second quarter and were ahead 60-45 as the game reached the half. Milwaukee actually cut the lead by 1 point at the end of three, but they were still looking up at the Celtics on the wrong side of a 80-66 score. But the Bucks erased the deficit in the fourth and at the end of regulation the two teams were deadlocked at 99-99. Milwaukee took their last lead of the game as Royal Ivey hit a 24 foot trey with 1:45 left in the?extra period. Those would also be the last points?the Bucks would?score for the game.

K.G. scored 21 points, 3 steals, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, Tony Allen was?a key contributor off the bench as he scored 17?points, 3 assists, 1 rebound.? James Posey scored 16 points, 9 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block. Pierce scored 14 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, Leon Powe also had 14 off the bench, 4 rebounds, 1 assist. Ray? Allen scored 11 points, 3 assists, 1 steal.

Michael Redd led Milwaukee with a game high 25 points, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 rebound, Andrew Bogut had a double-double 15 points, 15 boards, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals.? Desmond Mason scored 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist, Ramon Sessions scored 13 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals.? Bobby Simmons also scored 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, Royal Ivey scored 12 points, 1 steal, 1 assist, 1 rebound. Boston has now won 7 in a row and are at 62-15, the Bucks record is now 26-51.

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