For their 11th consecutive victory, the Milwaukee Bucks edged the shorthanded Boston Celtics 131-125 during the Tuesday night NBA slate, thanks to a go-ahead 3-pointer by Holiday.
To set a career-high for 3-pointers, Holiday made 8 of 12 from beyond the arc – including one from behind midcourt that beat the third-quarter buzzer. He even added seven assists.
“I don’t really, I guess, care for how I’m playing as long as we’re winning, Holiday said. “For me, as long as we get the win, I’m OK. The only stat I look at is turnovers. That’s kind of how I determine if I had a good or bad game. Tonight, what did I have, five turnovers? To me, that hurts my soul.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Holiday will play in the All-Star Game on Sunday in Salt Lake City. The last time Holiday appeared at an All-Star game was in 2013, when he was playing for Philadelphia.
“I’ve said since the season started that he’s an All-Star,” Antetokounmpo said.
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks & Boston Celtics Updates
According to the Eastern Conference standings, the Bucks moved within a half-game of the Celtics (41-17) with Antetokounmpo’s 36 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists.
The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness), Jaylen Brown (facial fracture), Marcus Smart (sprained right ankle), and Al Horford (knee swelling). Still, the Celtics were close to securing their fifth consecutive win. Derrick White stepped up with a team-high 27 points and 12 assists, wile Malcolm Brogdon dropped 26 points.
“We expected to win that game, Malcolm Brogdon said. “We went into that game like we were going to win, like we were supposed to win. We believe we are the best team on the floor every single night.”
The game-tying triple was made by Boston’s Sam Hauser, a Wisconsin native who had a lot of family members and friends watching from the stands. Derrick White scored a series of five points at the beginning of overtime for the Celtics.
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks & Boston Celtics Updates
In the final two minutes, the Bucks scored seven points to close out the game with a five-point lead for the Celtics. A go-ahead 3-pointer by Holiday started the game-winning spurt.
“On both ends of the court, he was phenomenal,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think his ability to create some turnovers and create pressure helped flip it. We went down and he made a few big-time plays that just are very Jrue-like. Special performance by him.”
With 3.2 seconds left, the Celtics were called for a clear-path foul after Grant Williams lost the ball. Antetokounmpo converted both free throws, then threw down a dunk at the buzzer.
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