The Bucks vs. Celtics ending is why we love NBA Playoff basketball

The Bucks led the Celtics by 20 points in the third quarter, but Boston scrapped its way back to making it a game late. It was a game that came down to the wire. Here’s how the final moments played out:

Brown set a new playoff career-high with 34 points on 13-of-23 shooting. He made five threes on eight attempts, and it was his presence that turned a 20-point deficit into 17, then to 12, and eventually tied up in the fourth quarter.

Brown hit a huge step-back three with just 1:30 left in the fourth. His shot cut Milwaukee’s lead to just one.

The Celtics took the lead shortly after and it looked as if everything Milwaukee had fought for was going out the window. But the Bucks came up with a critical stop with less than a minute left. That’s when Giannis drove and found Eric Bledsoe, who hit Malcolm Brogdon with a touch pass in the corner for an open three.

There’s no video of this moment, but Horford blew by his man at the top of the key and would have gotten an easy basket had he not been fouled at the last second. He calmly netted both free throws to tie things up at 102 apiece.

Brogdon was feeling it after his huge three, and with the ball in his hands and the clock winding down, he drove to the rack and missed a layup. But Antetokounmpo followed that miss with a pivotal tip-in to give Milwaukee a two-point lead.

The Celtics went to Marcus Morris in a one-on-one with Khris Middleton. He faced up on the elbow, and in his best Carmelo Anthony impersonation, took one dribble before pulling up for a mid-range jump shot. It missed. Bucks survive, 104-102.