Bucks force Game 7 against Celtics after monster night from Giannis Antetounmpo

We are now getting the 129th Game 7 in NBA history thanks to the Bucks winning Game 6 sending this series back to Boston on Saturday night. Last year in this scenario, the Bucks at home in an elimination game, they lost to the Raptors. This year, they made sure to not let that happen again, thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo showing up for 31 points and 14 rebounds. The Bucks also got help from Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon eaching chipping in 16 points of their own.

The Celtics got Marcus Smart back tonight from injury, and while he did provide the Celtics an extra gear, the Celtics offense couldn’t hit any shots late to complete their comeback.

A Game 7 in Boston against Giannis Antetokounmpo? That sounds like a matchup we can’t miss.

WE’RE GOING TO GAME 7!

The Celtics went on a run while Giannis was on the bench. You can imagine that the Bucks got him right back in the game. Buckle up, folks. Here we go.

The Celtics tied the game at 61 but as we’ve seen in this game, it’s a game of runs. The Bucks responded again, doing everything they can to keep their season alive.

The lead got as high as 14 for the Bucks but the Celtics continue to fight to try and end this series in Game 6.

With their backs against the wall, Milwaukee ended the first half on a 14-2 run to take their biggest lead of the game so far. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks with 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while Terry Rozier leads the Celtics with 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

Stats of note:
Fast break points: Bucks 18, Celtics 0
In Game 5, Antetokounmpo took ten shots total. He already has nine if the first half of Game 6.

A game of runs, indeed.

A three-pointer by Al Horford and back to back great defensive plays from Marcus Smart have the Celtics rolling again.

A 7-0 run by the Bucks to finish the quarter with five of those from Jabari Parker. The Celtics let the Bucks and the home crowd get back into this one.

Back to back three’s from Terry Rozier! He’s already got 11 points in the first quarter.

Marcus Smart is back! Other than that ... hello Al Horford.

The Boston Celtics will look to close out their first-round matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in the only NBA game of the night on Thursday. Boston is up 3-2 in a series many thought was bound for upset after the Celtics lost Kyrie Irving for the postseason to an infection in his knee. That hasn’t happened. The emergence of second-year forward Jaylen Brown and rookie Jayson Tatum has been enough to withstand the dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Brown is averaging 22 points per game over the series, stepping into the primary scoring role on 49 percent shooting, including 44 percent from deep. He’s also averaging two assists to one turnover, five rebounds and a steal. He’s been extremely effective, and Tatum’s chipping in 13 points and six rebounds per game too. That’s been enough.

Date: April 26

Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

TV: TNT

This would be a real failed chance for Milwaukee, which was gifted an injured first-round opponent after a lackluster season. The Bucks held on to just the No. 7 seed in the East in a season they were supposed to take a major leap forward. Instead, they plateaued, and fired head coach Jason Kidd. A first-round playoff win would make this season worthwhile.

But they have to be perfect in consecutive games.