The Celtics, finalists last year, sent a big message to the Bucks, two months from perhaps finding themselves in the play-offs, by humiliating them (140-99) on their floor, in particular carried by 40 points from Jayson Tatum , Thursday in the NBA.
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In this real clash between the two best teams in the East, and even in the championship (their respective record is better than that of Denver, the leader in the West), Boston overcame Milwaukee.
The Bucks were helpless and overwhelmed in a way rarely seen this season.
Five games from the end of the regular season, it will still be difficult to dislodge the Bucks (55 wins / 22 losses) because they would have to lose, for example, two games and the Celtics (53/24) win all theirs, to arrive at a similar final balance.
The Celtics were in fact formidable in address (56% success) planting 22 long distance baskets (out of 43).
Tatum was impressive with a remarkable 8 out of 10 in the exercise.
Boston folded the meeting by counting up to 49 units in advance in the last quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the only Buck to float so far, scored 24 points.
Denver falls to the Pelicans
In the other game of the night, New Orleans, thanks to a triple-double from Brandon Ingram (31 pts, 11 rbds, 10 pd) went to win 107-88 in Denver, at Nuggets deprived of Nikola Jokic.
With this 6th victory in seven outings, the Pelicans made a strong impression on the Western leader.
New Orleans, which is tied with 7th, is more than ever in the race for the play-offs.