Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points (24 in the paint) and 13 rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks went on a 17-4 run in the fourth quarter to beat the Boston Celtics 108-100 in their season opener at TD Garden.
The Celtics led 86-80 with 9:13 left in the fourth quarter. Malcolm Brogdon’s 2 free throws put the Bucks ahead for good with 6:11 left. Antetokounmpo scored 8 points during the run, and they led 97-90 with 2:53 left.
The Celtics got within 99-97 on Kyrie Irving’s driving layup with 1:05 to play, but Matthew Dellavedova answered with a 3-pointer, and the Celtics got no closer than 104-100.
Dellavedova’s 2 free throws with 29.8 seconds left made it 106-100 and put it away.
During clutch time, the Bucks outscored the Celtics 14-5. Dellavedova scored 7 of the Bucks’ 14 on 2 for 2 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Irving had 2 of his 3 steals, both with the game within five points, and the Celtics scored 4 points off them.
For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown scored 18 points (9 in the third quarter). Terry Rozier had 15 points and 6 assists off the bench. Irving had 17 points and 3 steals but shot 7 for 25.
The Bucks went 25 for 30 at the line to the Celtics’ 11 for 21. The Bucks outscored the Celtics 26-15 in 10 minutes with Henson, Middleton, Antetokounmpo, Dellavedova and Brogdon on the floor together. Brown fouled out.