Push Admin

NBA: Antetokounmpo returns, as Bucks rally to beat Celtics

Article (news)

Field Level Media/Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks against the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day. Jeff Hanisch, USA Today Sports/Reuters" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/12/27/giannis.jpg"/><figcaption>Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks against the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day. Jeff Hanisch, USA Today Sports/Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points and 12 rebounds in his return from COVID-19 protocols, as the Milwaukee Bucks rallied from 19 points down to beat the visiting Boston Celtics 117-113 in a Christmas Day showdown on Saturday (US time).Antetokounmpo finished 13 of 23 from the field and added 5 assists in just under 30 minutes after missing 5 games in the NBA&#x27;s health and safety protocols.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/26/21/nba-resurgent-kemba-walker-leads-knicks-over-hawks">NBA: Resurgent Kemba Walker leads Knicks over Hawks</a></li></ul>Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday scored 17 points apiece for Milwaukee, which won its third straight game. Bucks center Bobby Portis added 16 points and 10 boards after sitting out 4 games in COVID protocols.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/15/21/nba-giannis-antetokounmpo-enters-covid-19-protocols">NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo enters COVID-19 protocols, out vs. Pacers</a></li></ul>Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 25 apiece to lead Boston, which lost for the 7th time in 11 tries.Marcus Smart added 19 points and Payton Pritchard scored 16 off the bench for the Celtics.Shortly before tip-off, Boston guard Dennis Schroder became the team&#x27;s 13th player in more than a week to enter the league&#x27;s health and safety protocols.Schroder was sidelined in COVID protocols along with Celtics guards Josh Richardson and CJ Miles, forwards Grant Williams, Aaron Nesmith, Justin Jackson and Sam Hauser, and centers Enes Freedom and Bruno Fernando.Donte DiVincenzo scored 3 points in his season debut for Milwaukee after undergoing offseason ankle surgery and clearing COVID protocols.Boston was up 62-47 at halftime after leading by as many as 19 in the second quarter.Milwaukee surged back with a 43-point third quarter and pulled within 94-90 entering the 4th. The Celtics scored the first 8 points of the final period in a 10-2 run to reclaim a double-digit advantage.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/26/21/nba-warriors-beat-suns-move-atop-western-conference">NBA: Warriors take down Suns, move atop Western Conference</a></li></ul>Antetokounmpo&#x27;s point-blank layup with 1:29 remaining capped a 19-7 surge for the Bucks to tie it at 111. Wesley Matthews&#x27; 3-pointer with 30.3 seconds left gave Milwaukee its first lead at 114-113.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/26/21/nba-paul-george-elbow-tear-out-3-to-4-weeks">NBA: Clippers’ Paul George out 3 to 4 weeks with elbow tear</a></li></ul>Brown missed a potential go-ahead 14-foot jumper with 22.1 seconds to play and Middleton made it a three-point game with a pair of free throws with 17.8 on the clock.Antetokounmpo blocked a dunk attempt by Robert Williams III with 7.3 seconds to go and a coach&#x27;s challenge gave Milwaukee the ball back after it went out of bounds off a Celtics player. Middleton made 1-of-2 free throws at the other end to seal it.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points and 12 rebounds in his return from COVID protocols, as Milwaukee beat Boston 117-113 in a Christmas Day showdown.