Thursday, March 28

live analysis, news from NBA Playoffs Game 2


Tuesday’s game tips at 7 pm You can watch on TNT and listen on 98.5.

We’ll be offering live analysis during the game. Follow along below.

Live box score | Live play-by-play


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First quarter stats—7:30 p.m.

Jaylen Brown: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Jayson Tatum: 5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists

Grant Williams: 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist

Junior Holiday: 7 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists

Bobby Portis: 5 points, 1 rebound

Pat Connaughton: 5 points, 1 rebound

Jaylen Brown cannot miss — 7:27 pm

Jaylen Brown truly cannot miss right now. With Grayson Allen playing tight defense and the shot clock expiring, Brown drilled a step-back three-pointer. He now has 17 first-quarter points, more than half Boston’s total.

Jaylen Brown is on fire, and LeBron is taking notice — 7:21 p.m.

After a rough performance in Game 1, Jaylen Brown has bounced back emphatically. He’s single-handedly outscored the Bucks, 14-12, and made 5 of his 6 field goal attempts, including two from behind the arc. When Brown drilled a midrange jumper after Grayson Allen fell to his feet, the crowd went wild.

Even LeBron James took notice.

Jaylen Brown has 10 points already — 7:16 pm

Brown has 10 points (two 3-pointers) just 6.5 minutes into the game. He had 12 all of Sunday.

You couldn’t ask for a better start — 7:12 pm

You couldn’t ask for a better start from the Celtics, who jumped out to a 15-3 lead. The Bucks, meanwhile, have missed nine of their first 10 shots. Giannis Antetokounmpo is 0 of 6, including 0 of 2 from three. Grant Williams has been playing great defense.

Q1, 8:00: Celtics 7, Bucks 3 — 7:08 p.m.

A quick start for Boston — 7:04 p.m.

Boston has made its first two shots.

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Wait — make it three. Jaylen Brown sinks a three-pointer to make it 7-0 two minutes in.

What it’s like at TD Garden right now — 7:00 pm

There are a number of empty seats during starting lineup announcements, probably a result of Boston traffic and the early 7 pm tip-off, but the fans in attendance managed to get their usual boos off for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Co-owners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca are courtside, and several Patriots are expected to be in attendance as well.

Where’s the crowd? — 6:54 p.m.

Arlington’s Pat Connaughton visits with friends — 6:47 pm

Bucks guard Pat Connaughton, who grew up in Arlington, caught up with friends before Tuesday’s game at TD Garden.

Arlington native and St. John’s Prep grad Pat Connaughton, now a member of the Bucks, has a laugh as he is seated in courtside seats before the game.Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Marcus Smart could be back for Game 3 — 6:43 p.m.

By Adam Himmelsbach

Celtics guard Marcus Smart is missing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the visiting Bucks on Tuesday night because of a right quadriceps contusion.

Smart suffered the injury when he was hit twice in the leg during Boston’s 101-89 loss in Game 1 on Sunday.

Udoka said with three days off before Saturday’s Game 3 in Milwaukee, Smart will likely be able to return for that game.

Read more here.

Starting lineups—6:40 p.m.

Celtics starters: Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams

Unavailable: Marcus Smart

Buck starters: Jrue Holiday, Wesley Matthews, Bobby Portis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

Unavailable: Khris Middleton, George Hill

Grant Williams dishes on Celtics’ tactics to guard Antetokounmpo — 6:10 p.m.

By Adam Himmelsbach

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The Celtics limited Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to 9 of 25 shooting in Game 1, but he inflicted damage elsewhere by dishing out 12 assists.

Udoka said Monday that there were times in Game 1 when the Celtics double-teamed Antetokounmpo when it was not necessary. Before Tuesday’s game, Grant Williams said Boston’s defenders need to make timely decisions when determining how to swarm the former MVP.

“It’s understanding when and where to help and what to do,” Williams said. “Talented player, phenomenal guy. You have to do a good job of playing him solid, keeping him in front, and making sure you get out to the shooters because all of those guys do that extremely well. I think Grayson [Allen] is shooting 65 percent on catch-and-shoots this playoffs, so we have to do a great job on who we’re guarding, when and when not to help.”

Around the league—5:45 p.m.

Here’s where things stand in other playoff series:

▪ The Heat lead the Sixers, 1-0, after winning the series opener last night.

▪ The Suns beat the Mavericks in Game 1 to take the series lead.

▪ Game 2 between the Grizzlies and the Warriors tips at 9:30 pm on TNT.

See it all here.

On Sunday, the Bucks did to the Celtics what the Celtics did to the Nets — 5:25 p.m.

Column by Christopher L. Gasper

That bitter taste the Celtics have in their mouths after losing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals is the Bucks force-feeding them a taste of their own medicine on the parquet.

Defending NBA champion Milwaukee manacled Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in a 101-89 win in the same fashion the Celtics locked up Brooklyn stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in their first-round sweep of the Nets. The Bucks turned the tables on the NBA’s best defense, sticking to Tatum and Brown like the basketball version of a Secret Service detail, except instead of protecting them, the Bucks were protecting their basket.

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They hounded the Jays, surrounded them, and confused them. Boston’s offense, which shot just 33.3 percent, was dead on arrival.

Read the rest here.

Video: Jaylen Brown hits the court — 5:15 p.m.

NBC Sports Boston tweeted this video of Jaylen Brown putting up shots almost three hours before game time.

Marcus Smart is out—5:00 p.m.

The Celtics announced two hours before tip that Marcus Smart would not be available on Tuesday for Game 2.

“It’s bruised,” head coach Ime Udoka said Monday. “I’d say it’s more than just pain tolerance, though. Something that’s going to be stiff. He got hit twice there and has had this in the past where he had to miss some games this year.

“And so it’s more so than just pain tolerance. There’s some tightness and some restriction with movement as well.”

Smart missed six games in January with a right quadriceps contusion. On Sunday, he also suffered what initially appeared to be a potentially serious shoulder injury during the second quarter when he rushed off the court and into the locker room with his right arm slumped at his side. But he was diagnosed with a stinger and returned to play in the second half.

This season he averaged 12.1 points, a career-high 5.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game and became the first guard to be named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year since Gary Payton in 1996.

Smart will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by Derrick White. Grant Williams also could be an option, but the Celtics would likely need another ball-handler on the floor considering how the Bucks applied consistent full-court pressure during Game 1.


Nicole Yang can be reached at [email protected]. Katie McInerney can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @k8tmac.




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