Over four months have passed since the last time the Milwaukee Bucks played a game that counted towards their record, now it seems they took that time to prepare for a championship run by breaking the Boston Celtics.
They were not willing to wait another day for a victory.
In their first game back since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, the Bucks snagged their 54th win of the season over the Celtics, 119-112.
Milwaukee came out of the gates hot, starting off on a 17-2 scoring run. Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 14 of those 17, helping the Bucks gain an early cushion.
“I thought we had a great mindset coming out in the first five minutes,” Bucks Center Brook Lopez said.
Despite the fast start for Milwaukee, Boston was able to battle back. They found themselves with the lead at times in the second half. With 2:20 remaining, the teams were knotted up at 107.
Middleton and Antetokounmpo finished the game just how they started, going on an 8-2 run themselves and icing the game for the Bucks.
MVP candidate Antetokounmpo did not miss a step in his first game since March, leading the way with 36 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.
Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum struggled against the Bucks defense, shooting 2-18 from the field and recording just five points. Lopez led Milwaukee’s defensive efforts, serving as the rim’s guardian all night as he tallied six blocks.
The Bucks will play the second game of their eight game regular season stint in Orlando tonight, as they take on the Houston Rockets. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m. CST.