Celtics Cruise to 133-101 Blowout Over Short-Handed Bucks

Boston's hot shooting and balanced scoring overwhelm Milwaukee without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 3:50pm

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The Boston Celtics capitalized on another fast start, making 8 of their first 9 three-pointers to build a big early lead, and cruised to a 133-101 victory over the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 as the Celtics shot 56.2% overall and 17-of-37 from three-point range. Tatum just missed his second straight triple-double, finishing with 11 rebounds and 9 assists. The Celtics led by as many as 43 points and never trailed in the game.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Celtics firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference standings, 2.5 games ahead of the New York Knicks. Boston is still four games behind the conference-leading Detroit Pistons. The Celtics' continued dominance over the Bucks, who were missing several key players including Giannis Antetokounmpo, shows their ability to take care of business against shorthanded opponents.

The details

The Celtics came out firing, making 8 of their first 9 three-point attempts to build a 43-26 lead after the first quarter. That represented the most points Milwaukee had allowed in the opening period all season. Boston led by as many as 43 points in the game and never trailed, cruising to the 133-101 victory. Neemias Queta had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who shot 56.2% overall and 17-of-37 from three. Derrick White scored 17, Payton Pritchard 16, and Sam Hauser 13 off the bench.

  • The Celtics scored 53 points in the opening period against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, the highest first-quarter point total in franchise history.
  • The 43 points the Celtics scored in the first quarter on Friday represented the most Milwaukee had allowed in an opening period all season.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A star forward for the Boston Celtics who scored 26 points in the win.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' other star forward, who scored 23 points and just missed a triple-double with 11 rebounds and 9 assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks' superstar forward, who missed his 10th straight game due to a left knee injury.

Neemias Queta

A Celtics reserve center who had 19 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Taurean Prince

A Bucks forward who led Milwaukee with 18 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The Celtics' dominant performance over the short-handed Bucks showcases their ability to take care of business against lesser opponents and maintain their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Boston's hot shooting and balanced scoring attack proved too much for Milwaukee to handle, even without Giannis Antetokounmpo.