Celtics Close Regular Season with 6th Straight Win

Gigi Datome had a career-high 22 points and the Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 105-100 on the final night of the regular season.

The victory was the Celtics sixth win in a row and seventh consecutive road victory as they finished the season two games under .500 (40-42).

With both teams already locked in for playoff positions (Milwaukee 6th, Boston 7th), many of the regular rotation players either saw limited action or didn’t play at all. Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas, and Jae Crowder all did not suit up for the game, while starters Tyler Zeller and Brandon Bass played in only the first half.

Datome shot 60% (9-15) from the field in playing 27 minutes. He also added three rebounds and two assists.

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After starting the game 1-8 from the field and trailing by as many as nine points, the Celtics found themselves only down three, 25-22, to end the first quarter.

The Celtics were able to find their touch from beyond the arc, hitting 4-6 from downtown. Despite committing seven turnovers and allowing Khris Middleton to score 13 points on 6-6 shooting, the Celtics were in good position after the first.

An improvement on defense and emphasis on ball control staked the Celtics to a 49-45 halftime lead. The Celtics committed only 3 turnovers while forcing seven by the Bucks and knocked down three more 3’s, finishing the half 7-14 from beyond the arc.

Ten different Celtics players scored in the half, led by Zeller’s eight.

The third quarter turned into a battle between the Celtics Jonas Jerebko and the Bucks Ersan Ilyasova. Jerebko scored 12 third quarter points but Ilyasova won the duel as he scored 14 and the Bucks were only down one entering the fourth.

Then Datome and Kelly Olynyk took over. Datome had 12 of his points in the quarter as the Celtics lead grew to as large as nine before settling in for the five-point victory.

Olynyk had ten in the quarter before leaving with a head laceration with just under three minutes remaining.

Jerebko finished with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Olynyk also had 16 points. Jared Sullinger, in his most extensive playing time since returning from his foot injury, had 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 28 minutes of playing time.

Ilyasova led the Bucks with 21 points and Middleton finished with 18.

The Celtics now have three days to rest up before heading to Cleveland to face the Cavs on Sunday in the opening round of the playoffs.