5 Studs, 5 Duds From the Boston Celtics Win Over the Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince - Dud

The Bucks inserted Taurean Prince into the starting lineup in place of Khris Middleton to start the season. Not only is Prince there to knock down open threes, but he’s relied on to defend the opposing team’s best playmakers with his tough-nosed defense. On Monday, the forward struggled on both sides of the ball, finishing with three points. On defense, he committed multiple boneheaded fouls that cost the Bucks stops.

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Jaylen Brown - Stud

Jaylen Brown entered this matchup looking to set the tone against a Bucks team that hoped to make a statement. In the first half, Brown struggled to find his shot, as did many of his teammates. Nonetheless, in the second half, the reigning Finals MVP took over the game on his way to a 30 points, six rebounds, and four assists night.

Brook Lopez - Dud

Brook Lopez has been the defensive anchor for Milwaukee for years. And on the offensive side of the ball, the big man has shown a willingness to knock down deep shots to relieve the pressure on the Bucks' other stars. Unfortunately, on Monday, Lopez did the exact opposite of that. The 36-year-old finished shooting 35% from the field (5/14), including missing each of his four three-point attempts. With little to no impact offensively, the pressure on the Bucks duo was too much to overcome.

Payton Pritchard - Stud

Payton Pritchard single-handedly kept the Celtics in the game throughout the first half of this one. The Oregon product finished the night with 28 points on 10/14 shooting from the floor. In the win, Pritchard tied a franchise record for the Celtics, tying Eddie House with the most three-pointers (8) off the bench in the win.

Jayson Tatum - Dud

Jayson Tatum entered this matchup fresh off winning Eastern Conference Player of the Week. The star forward looked poised for an MVP season through the first week of the regular season. Against the Bucks, he struggled much during the first half, like the rest of the team. In the second half, he made some big-time plays to clinch the win, but he finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Considering a player of his caliber, his poor shooting night lands him on the dud list.

Giannis Antetokounmpo - Stud

Giannis Antetokounmpo shows up nightly, looking to send a message. Carrying a constant chip on his shoulder allows the Greek Freak to play harder than nearly everyone on the floor. His aggressive play style led to another dominant outing with 30 points, ten rebounds, and six assists on an efficient shooting night.

The Celtics Bench - Dud

The Celtics bench scored 30 points against the Bucks on Monday. While that may sound good, 28 of those 30 points came from Pritchard alone. The other field goal game was from a tip-in by Jordan Walsh in the second half. If the C's hope to repeat, they can't have another lousy bench outing against top competition.

Damian Lillard - Stud

Damian Lillard entered the season hoping to prove his first year in Milwaukee was not the caliber of play Bucks fans should be accustomed to. Through the first few games, he’s done just that. Against the Celtics, Lillard did nearly everything he could to keep the Bucks in the battle. With 33 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, there’s not much more the guard could have done.

Bobby Portis - Dud

Each night, Doc Rivers and the Bucks depend on Bobby Portis to provide a spark off the bench to keep Milwaukee in games when their starters need a breather. On Monday, not only did Portis not provide the spark, but he barely provided quality minutes. Finishing with only four points and six rebounds, the Bucks will need more from their Sixth Man of the Year candidate if they hope to reach their ultimate goal.

Jrue Holiday - Stud

Against his former team, it’s fair to say this is a matchup Jrue Holiday has marked on his calendar yearly. The guard has struggled in the last couple of games against the Bucks. However, during Monday’s matchup, Holiday knocked down timely shots and took over when needed, and his defensive versatility played a large part in the C’s win. The two-time champion finished with 21 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 58% shooting.

Taurean Prince - Dud

The Bucks inserted Taurean Prince into the starting lineup in place of Khris Middleton to start the season. Not only is Prince there to knock down open threes, but he’s relied on to defend the opposing team’s best playmakers with his tough-nosed defense. On Monday, the forward struggled on both sides of the ball, finishing with three points. On defense, he committed multiple boneheaded fouls that cost the Bucks stops.

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