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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum gestures following a three-point shot during the first half of their NBA game against the Phoenix Suns in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, March 14, 2024. CJ Gunther, EPA-EFE

epa11221445 Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum gestures following a three point shot during the first half of the NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 14 March 2024.  EPA-EFE/CJ GUNTHER  SHUTTERSTOCK OUT

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NBA - Phoenix Suns at Boston Celtics

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171100454543112098049.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum gestures following a three-point shot during the first half of their NBA game against the Phoenix Suns in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, March 14, 2024. CJ Gunther, EPA-EFE"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum gestures following a three-point shot during the first half of their NBA game against the Phoenix Suns in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, March 14, 2024. <em>CJ Gunther, EPA-EFE</em></span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES -- Jayson Tatum scored 31 points as the Boston Celtics held off a late fightback from the Milwaukee Bucks to win 122-119 in their top-of-table Eastern Conference clash on Wednesday.</p><p>Boston had looked to be cruising towards their seventh straight victory after dominating Milwaukee for long periods at the TD Garden.</p><p>Exploiting the absence of injured Bucks talisman Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Celtics surged into a 21-point lead late in the third quarter after Milwaukee had closed to within five just after half-time.</p><p>But a blistering fourth quarter performance by Milwaukee -- who outscored the Celtics 36-21 in the final frame -- set up a nerve-shredding finale before Boston squeaked home.</p><p>&quot;It was ugly,&quot; Tatum admitted. &quot;We didn&#x27;t play the way we wanted to in the fourth quarter, and they went on a run.</p><p>&quot;No lead is safe in the NBA. But a win is a win and we&#x27;ll take it.&quot;</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ctLOlBYCswM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Boston improved to 55-14 with the victory, leaving them a hefty 11 games clear of the second-placed Bucks.</p><p>The Celtics now need just three more wins to be assured of top seeding and home court advantage through the playoffs.</p><p>Even allowing for the fourth quarter wobble, few would bet against them returning to the NBA Finals in June after a performance which once again showcased their balanced offense.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/17/nba-giannis-less-bucks-stun-the-suns-behind-lillard-s-big-effort-635">READ: Giannis-less Bucks stun the Suns behind Lillard&#x27;s big effort</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/15/nba-celtics-blow-past-suns-bucks-stop-sixers-1129">READ: Celtics blow past Suns, Bucks stop Sixers</a></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Long way to go&#x27; -</strong></div><p>Five Boston players finished with double-digit points tallies, including Derrick White (23), Jaylen Brown (21) and Kristaps Porzingis (17). Payton Pritchard added 19 off the bench.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve just got a really complete team,&quot; Tatum told ESPN.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve been playing great all season, but we&#x27;ve still got a long way to go,&quot; Tatum said.</p><p>&quot;I like the way that we&#x27;re trending, but we&#x27;re just focused on getting better every single day.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re not looking to the playoffs. We&#x27;ve got a game on Friday against Detroit -- and that&#x27;s the mindset that we&#x27;ve got to have.&quot;</p><p>With Antetokounmpo absent, Milwaukee&#x27;s challenge was spearheaded by Damian Lillard, who finished with 32 points while Bobby Portis added 24 off the bench.</p><p>In other games on Wednesday, Kevin Durant surpassed Shaquille O&#x27;Neal to move into eighth place on the NBA&#x27;s all-time scoring list as the Phoenix Suns eased past the Philadelphia 76ers 115-102.</p><p>Durant, eight points behind O&#x27;Neal&#x27;s tally of 28,596 points before the game, drained a jump shot in the third quarter to move past the former Los Angeles Lakers icon.</p><p>&quot;Well deserved,&quot; O&#x27;Neal said in a video message to Durant. &quot;It doesn&#x27;t stop here ... If anybody was gonna pass me, it was definitely gonna be you.&quot;</p><p>Durant finished the night with 22 points, while Grayson Allen led the Suns scoring with 32 points including nine three-pointers.</p><p>In San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors bounced back from Monday&#x27;s defeat to the New York Knicks to hand the Memphis Grizzlies a 137-116 drubbing.</p><p>The Warriors improved to 36-32 and remain 10th in the West.</p><div><strong>- Butler reminder -</strong></div><p>In Cleveland, the Miami Heat produced a barnstorming finale to pip the Cavaliers 107-104.</p><p>Miami led for most of the game but Cleveland crept into a four-point lead with 1min 34sec remaining in the fourth.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UmJg1Pw0AE4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The Heat&#x27;s Terry Rozier rattled off nine points in the closing stages including a crucial 26-foot three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to restore Miami&#x27;s advantage and see the visitors home.</p><p>Rozier finished with 24 points while Jimmy Butler led Miami&#x27;s scorers with 30.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s the most important thing, just getting the win,&quot; Rozier said.</p><p>&quot;My team-mates and coaches do a great job of reminding me daily, night-in, night-out, who I am and just to be that. Happy we got the win.&quot;</p><p>Miami improved to 38-31 with the victory and sit in seventh place in the East. Cleveland remained third in the table at 43-26.</p><p>The Sacramento Kings eased past the Toronto Raptors 123-89, while the Indiana Pacers swatted aside Detroit 122-103.</p><p>Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City breezed past the Utah Jazz 119-107, with Chet Holmgren (35) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31) combining for 66 points.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Jayson Tatum scored 31 points as the Boston Celtics held off a late fightback from the Milwaukee Bucks to win 122-119 in their top-of-table Eastern Conference clash on Wednesday.</p>

Jayson Tatum scored 31 points as the Boston Celtics held off a late fightback from the Milwaukee Bucks to win 122-119 in their top-of-table Eastern Conference clash on Wednesday.

Celtics hold off Bucks for seventh straight win

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Celtics hold off Bucks for seventh straight win

Agence France-Presse

Published Mar 21, 2024 03:08 PM PHT

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