–
Jayson Tatum scored 46 points, outpacing Giannis Antetokounmpo and ensuring there was not another fourth-quarter comeback for the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Boston Celtics beat the defending champions 108-95 last night to force a Game 7 in their semifinal. of the Eastern Conference.
The third straight win for an away team sets up a winner-takes-all game tomorrow in Boston. The victor heads to Miami to begin an East finals matchup with the top-seeded Heat on Tuesday.
Boston showed its courage by rallying two nights after blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in a 110-107 home loss in Game 5. The Bucks tried to bounce back again after losing by 14 points in the final period, but this time Tatum kept the Celtics on top and kept their season alive.
Antetokounmpo had 44 points, 20 rebounds and six assists. His 20 sacks were one of the best of his career.
Jaylen Brown scored 22 and Marcus Smart had 21 for the Celtics, who capitalized on their superiority from 3-point range.
The Celtics were 17-for-43 and the Bucks 7-for-27 from beyond the arc.
The Celtics played without forward/center Robert Williams for the third straight game.
Celtics coach Ime Udoka said Williams bruised the bone in his left knee colliding with Antetokounmpo in Game 3.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee was without three-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton for the ninth straight game.
Middleton sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during Game 2 of the Bucks’ first-round series against the Chicago Bulls.
–
