George scores 27 as Celtics rally past Bucks 117-97

Paul George scored 27 points in 28 minutes as the Boston Celtics rallied from a 14-point first-quarter deficit to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-97 on Sunday, November 8.

George made 11 of 18 shots, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Boston took the lead for good in the second quarter, which it won 33-18, and the game had one lead change.

Milwaukee opened with an 11-0 run for a 20-6 lead. Boston answered with a 10-0 run late in the first quarter and trailed 27-25 after one.

An 11-0 Boston run that began in the final seconds of the first half carried into the third quarter and made it 67-45. The lead reached 23, at 70-47, with 8:38 left in the third.

Jayson Tatum added 21 points and six assists despite shooting 6 of 19. Mitchell Robinson made all six of his shots off the bench for 12 points and had four steals.

Boston's reserves scored 44 points, and Payton Pritchard finished plus-29.

Kyle Kuzma led Milwaukee with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 6 of 13 from 3-point range. Brayden Burries and Tyler Herro each scored 13. The Bucks made 12 of 14 free throws but turned the ball over 14 times, four more than Boston.

Boston grabbed 20 offensive rebounds to Milwaukee's nine, which kept the Celtics in control on a night Tatum missed 13 shots.

Milwaukee outscored Boston 11-8 over the final five minutes, which began with the Celtics up 109-86. Ron Harper Jr. hit a 12-foot jumper with 34.7 seconds left for the final 117-97.

Boston, an 85.2 percent favorite in the sportsbooks' prices, improved to 8-2. Milwaukee fell to 1-9.

Up next

Celtics: at the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, November 10.

Bucks: at the New York Knicks on Tuesday, November 10.