NBA: Celtics exploit short-handed Bucks for latest lopsided win

Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a dominant 133-101 victory over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

It's the second win in a row for Boston (52-25) and fifth in its last six contests. Six Celtics scored at least 13 points, including Neemias Queta with 19 and Derrick White with 17. Payton Pritchard supplied 16 points and six assists off the bench.

Milwaukee (30-47) dropped its second straight game and sixth in its last seven. Taurean Prince led with 18 points off the bench while AJ Green scored 15 and Kyle Kuzma and Pete Nance each added 14. Nance made it a double-double with 10 rebounds.

Milwaukee was once again short-handed, playing without Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr. and, most notably, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

During the game, ESPN reported that the NBA is investigating the Bucks due to their handling of Antetokounmpo's health and the player participation policy, as Antetokounmpo told media before the game he is available and wants to play but is being held out.

While it wasn't quite a 53-point first quarter like it had Wednesday against Miami, Boston put up yet another strong opening frame with 43 points. The Celtics shot 60% from the floor and went 8 for 12 from beyond the arc to head into the second quarter up 43-26.

Despite a more closely-contested second, Boston went into halftime up 75-55. Five Celtics were already in double figures, led by 15 from Queta.

Milwaukee put up a better offensive output than the 79 and 81 points it scored in the last two meetings between these teams. The Bucks' momentum stalled in the third, when they shot 30.4% from the floor and saw the deficit increase to 35 points as the Celtics cruised.

Boston has now won two games in a row by 18-plus points despite allowing more than 20 3-pointers in each contest. The Bucks made 21 on Friday, led by Green's 5-for-9 effort.

Boston also clinched the four-game season series victory 3-1 by winning its third straight against the Bucks.

--Field Level Media/Reuters