Celtics Crush Bucks Despite Injuries

The decisive 108-81 victory for the Boston Celtics over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night came as the Bucks welcomed back their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo returned to the court after a five-plus-week absence due to a right calf strain, finishing the game with 19 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes of play. The Bucks had a mixed record of 8-7 during his 15-game absence. The Celtics were without five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown, who was sidelined with an illness. Boston also rested Neemias Queta on the second night of a back-to-back, just a day after he scored a career-high 27 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. The team continues to be without Jayson Tatum, who is recovering from an Achilles injury sustained in last season's playoffs. Stepping up in the absence of key players was rookie Hugo González, the 28th overall pick in the 2025 draft. In just his third start of the season, González recorded career-highs with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Prior to this game, he was averaging just 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. González's performance was historically significant, as he became the first Celtics rookie since Larry Bird to put up at least 18 points, 16 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in a single game. Payton Pritchard also played a major role in the win, leading all scorers with 25 points off the bench and adding nine assists. Derrick White contributed 18 points and nine assists as well. This victory marked the Celtics' third consecutive win and their seventh in the last eight games. The lopsided loss was Milwaukee's third straight, with all three defeats coming by a margin of at least 23 points. The Celtics' commanding performance was built on a significant run in the first half, turning a one-point deficit into an 18-point lead and maintaining control for the remainder of the game.