Celtics Hold Off Bucks 109-102 Behind Paul George’s 25 Points

The Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 109-102 on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at TD Garden, with Paul George leading Boston with 25 points. Derrick White added 24 points and seven assists as the Celtics held off Milwaukee’s second-half comeback after building a 21-point halftime lead.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Celtics Establish a 28-14 Lead

Boston took control early, outscoring Milwaukee 28-14 in the opening quarter. The Bucks’ 14 points represented their lowest-scoring period of the night, leaving them with a substantial deficit before their offense found a more productive rhythm.

Second Quarter: Boston Extends Its Advantage

The Celtics followed with their highest-scoring quarter, adding 34 points to Milwaukee’s 27. Boston entered halftime ahead 62-41, having won the first two periods by a combined 21 points.

Third Quarter: Bucks Reduce the Deficit

Milwaukee changed the game’s direction with a 38-point third quarter. The Bucks outscored Boston 38-25, reducing the Celtics’ lead to 87-79 entering the fourth. That 13-point advantage in the period brought Milwaukee back into contention.

Fourth Quarter: Celtics Preserve the Win

The Bucks edged Boston 23-22 in the final period, but that modest advantage was not enough to complete the comeback. The Celtics maintained enough separation to finish with a seven-point victory in regulation.

Key Performers

• Paul George, Celtics: Led Boston with 25 points, matching Milwaukee’s Tyler Herro for the game’s scoring lead.
• Derrick White, Celtics: Delivered 24 points and a team-high seven assists, finishing just one point behind George.
• Neemias Queta, Celtics: Collected a team-leading 12 rebounds as Boston finished with a 54-45 advantage on the boards.
• Tyler Herro, Bucks: Paced Milwaukee with 25 points.
• Myles Turner, Bucks: Contributed 12 points, nine rebounds and a team-high six assists.
• Ryan Rollins, Bucks: Matched Turner with nine rebounds, sharing Milwaukee’s team lead.

NerdSports Stat: Boston was outscored by nine points from 3-point range but won by seven, making up the difference with a combined 16-point advantage on two-point baskets and free throws.

Game Analysis

Boston’s early advantage proved decisive. Milwaukee won the second half 61-47, but its 21-point halftime deficit left too much ground to recover. The Celtics’ first-half production gave them room to withstand a significantly more productive Bucks offense after the break.

The teams posted similar shooting percentages. Boston finished at 40.7% from the field, while Milwaukee shot 41.2%. Both also exceeded 40% from beyond the arc: the Celtics made 16 of 39 attempts, compared with the Bucks’ 19 of 47.

Boston found its scoring advantage elsewhere. The Celtics made 21 two-point field goals to Milwaukee’s 16 and converted 19 of 25 free throws, compared with 13 of 19 for the Bucks. Those differences outweighed Milwaukee’s three additional 3-pointers.

Rebounding also favored Boston, 54-45, with Queta supplying 12 boards. The Celtics attempted six more field goals and six more free throws. Milwaukee finished ahead in assists, 28-24, but its passing and perimeter production could not fully offset Boston’s advantages.

What the Result Means

Boston improved to 6-2 overall and remained unbeaten at home at 5-0, strengthening its early-season position in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee fell to 1-7 and 0-4 on the road. Both teams return to action Friday, November 6: the Celtics host the Charlotte Hornets at 4:00 p.m. PST, while the Bucks host the Toronto Raptors at 5:00 p.m. PST.

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