Three key takeaways from the Bucks’ back-to-back loss to the Celtics

The Milwaukee Bucks lost their third straight game on Monday night, falling to the Boston Celtics 119-108. Despite a strong third-quarter push and impressive performances from stars Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee couldn’t muster enough to defeat its Eastern Conference rival.

Lillard led all scorers with 33 points on 7-for-15 shooting, including an impressive 17-for-18 from the free throw line, and added seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Antetokounmpo also had a solid night, matching Lillard’s intensity with 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes. But in the end their efforts failed.

Here are three key takeaways from Milwaukee’s loss to Boston:

Even though Jayson Tatum had a bad night, Milwaukee struggled to keep up. The Bucks had four of their five starters score in double figures, but the bench didn’t provide the support they needed. Milwaukee’s reserves combined for just 19 points, and starting forward Taurean Prince contributed just three points in 32 minutes and finished with a -7 plus-minus. While the Bucks showed some toughness, they seemed to lack the consistency to remain competitive against the defending champions. Monday’s performance raises questions about whether this Bucks squad, currently 1-3, has the depth and endurance to compete with a top team like Boston.

Milwaukee put up a strong fight in the third quarter, showing their resilience and chipping away at the lead. Despite their efforts, Boston outscored Milwaukee 37-26 in the quarter, highlighting the challenge of maintaining the pace on the road. The Bucks fought their way back into the game, but costly turnovers and defensive errors kept them from taking control when they needed it most.

One of the biggest challenges of the game for Milwaukee was compensating for Boston’s three-point shot. The Celtics shot 38.3 percent from distance and knocked down 18 of 47 attempts, while the Bucks struggled to find their rhythm from distance and shot just 25.8 percent. The Celtics’ perimeter shooting was crucial, continuing the trend from the season opener when they tied the NBA record with 29 three-pointers. Milwaukee’s difficulty scoring from deep, coupled with Boston’s consistency from distance, turned the game in the Celtics’ favor.

The Bucks are now in a three-game stretch and will look to break the streak on Thursday when they finish their road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies.