Bucks resist Antetokounmpo injury to beat Celtics 104-91

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo left late in the third quarter with a calf injury, but the Milwaukee Bucks held on to beat the Boston Celtics 104-91 Tuesday night in a game that featured a total NBA record of two free games. launch attempts.

Milwaukee ended a four-game skid as Patrick Beverley had 20 points and 10 rebounds after the Bucks shook up their lineup by starting the veteran guard ahead of Malik Beasley, who came off the bench for the first time all season .

Antetokounmpo was heading toward the court late in the third quarter after a Celtics basket when he grabbed his left calf and sat down. The two-time MVP was helped off the ground and cameras showed him heading to the locker room under his own power.

The Bucks said Antetokounmpo has a left soleus strain. The soleus is a calf muscle.

Antetokounmpo had 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and he also attempted the game’s only free throws. He went 1 of 2 from the line in the first quarter.

The Celtics became the first team in NBA history to go an entire game without attempting a free throw. The previous record for fewest combined attempts in a game was 11.

Milwaukee resisted Antetokounmpo’s injury with a blistering start that allowed the Bucks to take a 24-point lead in the first half.

Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis scored 15 points each, and Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton added 12 each. Portis also had 10 rebounds.

The Celtics, who already had the NBA’s best regular-season record and No. 1 seed in the playoffs, were playing without Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Horford was unavailable due to a sprained left big toe, and the Celtics are managing Porzingis’ workload after he missed five games last month with a hamstring strain right.

Jayson Tatum scored 22 points to lead the Celtics. Jaylen Brown had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday had 12 points.

Lopez made 4 of 5 on 3-point attempts in the first six minutes to set the tone for a first quarter in which the Bucks shot 14 of 18 overall and 8 of 10 from 3-point range. The Bucks extended their lead to 47-23 on Portis’ dunk with 8:02 left in the second quarter.

The Bucks led 63-43 at halftime.

Antetokounmpo’s injury occurred during a 14-4 run against the Celtics that closed the third quarter and helped Boston cut Milwaukee’s lead to 78-67. The Bucks responded by scoring the first seven points of the fourth quarter, including five in a row from Khris Middleton.

The Bucks stayed ahead by double digits the rest of the way.

FOLLOWING

Celtics: Host the New York Knicks on Thursday.

Bucks: Host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.