The Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-97 on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Fiserv Forum, with Paul George leading Boston with 27 points. A decisive second quarter turned an early deficit into a double-digit halftime advantage, helping the Celtics improve to 8-2 while Milwaukee fell to 1-9.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Bucks Take a Narrow Lead
Milwaukee opened with a 27-25 advantage, giving the home team a two-point cushion after the first quarter. It was the only period in which the Bucks outscored Boston.
Second Quarter: Boston Takes Control
The Celtics outscored Milwaukee 33-18 in the second quarter, turning their two-point deficit into a 58-45 halftime lead. That 15-point advantage in the period represented the largest quarterly scoring difference of the game and established the separation Boston maintained after halftime.
Third Quarter: Celtics Extend the Advantage
Boston delivered another 33-point quarter, outscoring the Bucks 33-29 to take a 91-74 lead into the fourth. Milwaukee improved its offensive production from the second period, but could not reduce the halftime deficit.
Fourth Quarter: Boston Completes the Road Win
The Celtics finished with a 26-23 edge in the final quarter, bringing the final margin to 20 points. Boston won each of the last three periods and outscored Milwaukee 92-70 after the opening quarter.
Key Performers
- Paul George, Celtics: Scored 27 points to lead Boston and share game-high scoring honors.
- Kyle Kuzma, Bucks: Matched George with 27 points, leading Milwaukee’s offense.
- Neemias Queta, Celtics: Collected a team-high nine rebounds as Boston finished with a 48-36 advantage on the boards.
- Derrick White, Celtics: Led Boston with seven assists, contributing to the team’s 27-assist total.
- Myles Turner, Bucks: Paced Milwaukee with seven assists.
- Brayden Burries, Bucks: Led the home team with eight rebounds.
NerdSports Stat: Boston’s advantage on two-point field goals accounted for 14 of its 20-point winning margin, or 70%, even though both teams took more than half their field-goal attempts from three-point range.
Game Analysis
More Attempts, Better Accuracy
Boston combined greater shot volume with better shooting efficiency. The Celtics made 45 of 95 field-goal attempts, shooting 47.4%, compared with Milwaukee’s 35-for-79 performance at 44.3%. That left Boston with 16 more attempts and 10 more made baskets.
The Celtics also held a 12-rebound advantage and finished with three more assists, 27-24. The available statistics do not include turnover or offensive-rebound totals, so they do not fully explain the difference in shot attempts.
Three-Point Edge Adds to the Separation
Boston connected on 18 of 48 three-pointers, shooting 37.5%, while Milwaukee made 15 of 43 at 34.9%. The Celtics’ three additional makes supplied a nine-point advantage from beyond the arc.
Inside the arc, Boston made 27 of 47 attempts compared with Milwaukee’s 20 of 36. The Bucks recovered three points at the free-throw line, making 12 of 14 while Boston finished 9 of 14, but that advantage was not enough to offset the field-goal difference.
Closing Context: Celtics Improve to 8-2
The victory moved Boston to 8-2 overall and 3-2 on the road, while Milwaukee dropped to 1-9 overall and 1-5 at home. The Celtics continue their Eastern Conference schedule against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, November 10, at 5:00 p.m. PST. The Bucks host the New York Knicks that same day at 4:30 p.m. PST, seeking an improved result after another home defeat.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-97 on November 8, 2026.
Paul George scored 27 points. His individual shooting percentage was not included in the supplied game statistics.
After the win, the Boston Celtics sit at 8-2 in the Eastern Conference.
Paul George was the standout performer for the winning Celtics with 27 points, sharing game-high scoring honors with Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma.
