BOSTON — The Celtics blew out the Bucks 107-79 on Sunday at TD Garden with little resistance in the victory. The C’s improved to 31-18, finishing off their four-game home stand. The Bucks dropped to 18-29 for their fifth straight loss. The 79 points allowed were a season-low for the Celtics.
The Bucks held an early lead, scoring the first 12 points of the game. But the Celtics came back to take a 14-point halftime lead, overwhelming the visitors. The C’s pounded the glass to generate more shot opportunities. So while they weren’t super efficient, they put pressure on the Bucks.
It was all Celtics from there as their lead peaked at 31 points Sunday. The Bucks never put a threatening comeback attempt as part of the loss. They made shots early, but the Bucks struggled throughout the second half.
Jaylen Brown led the way with 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics. Anfernee Simons added 27 points off the bench. Ryan Rollins had 25 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Bucks. Kyle Kuzma also had 16 points.
The Celtics face the Mavericks at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Dallas for their next game. Here are four takeaways from Boston’s win over Milwaukee:
Off the bench: It was another big scoring night for Simons, who finished with 27 points on 10-for-18 shooting, including 6-for-10 on 3-pointers. The Celtics were down in the first quarter, so Simons’ 11 points in the opening frame helped pull them even. While Simons has been in trade rumors for months, it was another solid showing for the reserve guard. It remains to be seen if he’s still on Boston’s roster past the trade deadline, but he’s continued to contribute while he’s here.
High energy: Jordan Walsh hasn’t been a starter for the Celtics in a month, but he still made the most of his 20 minutes Sunday. He scrapped for multiple loose balls and made several nice plays. Walsh finished with six points, five rebounds (all offensive) and three assists, showcasing every bit of his game. He wasn’t perfect with some mistakes mixed in there, but the Celtics needed that juice throughout the game.
Bucks uncertainty: Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his latest game with a calf issue as he’s the name to watch ahead of the trade deadline. Sunday’s game also showed how much of a struggle it’s been for Milwaukee in what’s becoming a lost season. Their big free agency acquisition of big man Myles Turner struggled Sunday, scoring just seven points on 2-for-8 shooting. Rollins is a nice piece in a breakout season, though there haven’t been many bright spots. Otherwise, the Bucks looked listless as part of their losing streak.
Final home game before deadline: The next time Celtics fans see their team at the Garden, some pieces could look different. The C’s don’t play in Boston again until Friday against Miami, a day after Thursday’s trade deadline. The Celtics have been rumored to be in the market for a big man, though it’s unclear which guy they could target. Regardless, with the Celtics near the top of the East standings, a move to round out the roster is likely coming.