NBA Playoffs 2019: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks take control second half to take Game 3

Gilbert McGregor

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NBA Playoffs 2019: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks take control second half to take Game 3 image

While the Celtics and Bucks are fairly evenly matched on a talent level, things hadn't been too close just yet in this Eastern Conference Semifinal series.

Boston made a statement with a 22-point win in Game 1 and Milwaukee responded in Game 2 with a 21-point win of its own. As the series shifted to TD Garden, the Bucks made a big statement with a seven-point win to regain home-court advantage and take a 2-1 series lead.

If you missed any of the action, check below for live score updates, news, stats and highlights from throughout the game…

Final: Bucks 123, Celtics 116 (Milwaukee leads 2-1)

The Bucks put forth a big second-half performance, outscoring the Celtics 68-60 to capture the seven-point win in Game 3.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee with 32 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists while the team benefitted from big contributions off the bench from George Hill (21 points) and Pat Connaughton (14 points). All-Star Khris Middleton added 20 points and five assists for the 

Kyrie Irving led the way for Boston with 29 points (on 8-22 shooting) while five other Celtics finished in double figures (Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Marcus Morris Sr., and Jayson Tatum).

End of third quarter:  Bucks 95, Celtics 87 

Milwaukee puts forth a BIG third quarter, outscoring Boston 40-31 to take a nine-point lead into the final frame.

The Bucks did it from beyond the arc, sinking six 3-pointers in the quarter while the Celtics managed to hit just three of their nine 3-point attempts in the frame. George Hill went 2-for-2 from deep and 4-for-4 from the field to score 11 points in the third alone; he now has 15 points in the game.


Giannis Antetokounmpo is on triple-double watch as he enters the fourth quarter with 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

After a scoreless second quarter, Kyrie Irving is back into his groove, scoring 12 points in the third quarter to bring his total for the game to 25 points (on 7-17 shooting).  

Jaylen Brown now has 16 points including this MONSTER dunk.


 

Halftime:  Celtics 56, Bucks 55

It's a battle of the superstars as Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 14 first-half points (on 4-5 shooting) to bring his team within one point at the half.


Kyrie Irving didn't score in the second quarter but enters the half with a team-high 13 points. Jaylen Brown (11 points), Marcus Morris Sr. (11 points) and Jayson Tatum (10 points) are the other Celtics to finish in double figures before the half.

The difference has been from the perimeter, as Boston is shooting 10-for-23 (43.5%) from deep while Milwaukee is 7-for-21 (33.3%).

Massachusetts native Pat Connaughton is the only other Buck to finish in double-figures ahead of the half, as he's scored 11 points thanks to hitting three of his five 3-point attempts.


Bucks point guard Eric Bledsoe will look to get going in the second half as he currently has five points on 2-for-10 shooting.

End of first quarter:  Celtics 30, Bucks 25

At the end of one, Kyrie Irving has a game-high 13 points for the Celtics, who have built a five-point lead.

Boston's All-Star point guard has already found a way to get a number of crafty buckets and is on the path for a big scoring performance.




 

Milwaukee, who is 10-for-22 (45.5%) from the field after one, is led by eight points from both Giannis Antetokounmpo and reserve Pat Connaughton.

The Bucks are 3-for-9 (33.3%) from deep while the Celtics are 4-for-11 (36.4%)

Pregame

The Celtics will go with Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris Sr. and Al Horford to start things off.


Milwaukee again goes with Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Mirotic and Brook Lopez to start Game 3.


Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to pick up where he left off after his 29-point performance in Game 2.


Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.