The Boston Celtics were outplayed and outmuscled in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals … and they took that personally.
Many expected the Celtics to shoot better against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 after laying an 89-point egg in Game 1. But with defensive leader Marcus Smart sidelined due to a right quad injury, it was worth wondering whether Boston could hang with Milwaukee physically.
The Celtics provided a definitive answer Tuesday night at TD Garden, holding the Bucks to 86 points in a 23-point victory that evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum admitted his team had plenty of motivation going into this one, and that they did their best to embody Smart’s relentlessness in their own play.
