Boston Celtics halt winless run with comprehensive victory, Giannis Antetokounmpo stars for Milwaukee Bucks
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ByOli Gent
Updated 31/03/2024 at 12:19 GMT
NBA favourites the Boston Celtics bounced back from two straight defeats with a routine 104-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Jayson Tatum played a starring role, notching 23 points. Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks kept in touch at the top as Giannis Antetokounmpo's 36 points helped them beat the Atlanta Hawks 122-113, despite Bogdan Bogdanovic scoring 38.
Tatum
Image credit: Getty Images
The Boston Celtics bounced back from two straight defeats with a 104-92 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
The Eastern Conference leaders had suffered two back-to-back losses to Atlanta, but it was Jayson Tatum who fired them to victory here.
It was the small forward’s 23 points that helped the visiting side on their way, while Kristaps Porzingis added 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks, with Jaylen Brown notching 17 points.
The Celtics hold the best record in the NBA this season, with 58 wins and 16 defeats.
Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum scored 25 and 24 points respectively for the Pelicans, but it was not enough to overcome the superior quality of the Celtics, who sit top of the league ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Jaylen did a nice job of making it very difficult for him [Williamson],” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.
“He still got his average on free throws, but we kept him out of transition, kept him out of the paint and the guys on the perimeter did a great job of showing help on Zion and making him give up the ball early.”
He added: “They definitely hit us first. Our guys did a great job keeping their poise and responding the way we know how to with our defense and our offensive execution.”
Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks stayed in close contact with the Celtics at the top of the Eastern division, beating the Atlanta Hawks 122-113.
Star man Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, scoring six dunks, to end the Hawks’ four-game winning run.
Bogdan Bogdanovic top-scored with 38 for the hosts, but his individual efforts were not enough to salvage what would have been a mightily impressive victory, especially with Antetokounmpo and Kris Middleton, the small forward who scored 21 points, in such good form.
The Orlando Magic snapped their three-game skid with a comprehensive 118-88 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, with Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs, and Cole Anthony all chipping in with 15 points each to leave their opponents mired in the bottom three of the Western Conference.
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