The Boston Celtics went into Fiserv Forum and won 117-97 over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night. Paul George scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum ran the offense with 21 points and six assists. Boston's scoring came from several players, and Milwaukee never matched it.
The decisive moment
Boston didn't need one big swing to pull away. Its lead came from steady pressure at both ends. George made tough shots and Tatum created for teammates, so Milwaukee never got a run going. Kyle Kuzma carried the Bucks' offense, but too few teammates scored with him to close the gap.
By the numbers
- Final score: Celtics 117, Bucks 97
- Paul George (BOS): 27 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
- Jayson Tatum (BOS): 21 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists
- Mitchell Robinson (BOS): 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
- Kyle Kuzma (MIL): 27 points, 4 rebounds
George, Tatum and Robinson scored 60 points between them, more than half of Boston's total. Kuzma shared the game high with George, but his 27 points were close to 28 percent of Milwaukee's 97.
Absences on both benches
Both teams were missing players. Milwaukee played without Kam Jones, Bogoljub Marković and Pete Nance, which left fewer options behind Kuzma. Boston was without Devin Carter, Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell, but its top players covered the gaps.
Robinson was a big part of that. His 12 points and team-high seven rebounds gave the Celtics a solid presence inside to go with their perimeter scoring.
What it means
For Boston, a 20-point road win is a strong result early in the 2026-27 NBA Regular Season. George and Tatum are working well together, and the supporting cast added enough scoring to make it a blowout. Results like this one help a team in the standings over a long schedule.
For Milwaukee, a lopsided home loss raises questions about secondary scoring. Kuzma was efficient and aggressive, but the Bucks can't count on one player against a deep opponent. The coaching staff needs more balance, especially while key players are out.
What to watch next
Boston will want to see whether George and Tatum can keep scoring like this. Milwaukee will be watching for the returns of Jones, Marković and Nance, and for which players step up next to Kuzma.