NBA: Kemba Walker fires 32 as Celtics rally to beat Bucks

By the Associated Press

BOSTON — The Bucks exploited gaps in the Celtics’ defense on their way to beating Boston in five games last season in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Celtics used a balanced, barrage of offense to return the favor in their first matchup this season.

Kemba Walker had 21 of his 32 points in the second half and Boston rallied to beat Milwaukee 116-105 on Wednesday night.

Jayson Tatum added 25 points, Gordon Hayward had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Marcus Smart finished with 19 points and six assists. Boston shot 54% from the field over the final two quarters.

“We’ve got so many talented guys on this team everybody should be chipping in to be the team we want to be,” Tatum said.

Milwaukee dominated in the first half, leading by 19 at one point. But the Celtics responded in the third quarter, using a 26-7 run over the final 6:38 of the period to take an 80-76 edge into the fourth.

“They got going pretty good,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Kemba’s a great player, but they played through Hayward a little bit. Tatum made some big shots, tough shots. They mixed and matched well — those three tonight.”

Boston kept that momentum, beginning the final period with an 11-4 run to open a 91-80 lead.

“I think it started on the defensive end,” Hayward said. “We kept getting stops, our energy picked up and that kind of turned it around for us in the second half.”

Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 26 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points and 14 rebounds, but the reigning MVP lost his composure late, first picking up a hard foul on Smart and then a technical foul in the final minute.

Antetokounmpo said there was no malicious intent on the play with Smart.

“Nothing,” Antetokounmpo said. “I tried to go for the rebound. He tried to go for the rebound. Two guys that play hard and we both ended up on the floor.”

The Celtics started Daniel Theis at center and the defensive-minded Smart at guard with Jaylen Brown out with an illness and Enes Kanter sidelined for the third straight game with a bruised left knee.

It did little to stop the much bigger Bucks front line from getting in the paint early on as Milwaukee sliced through Boston’s interior and hit nine 3-pointers on their way to a 58-42 halftime lead.

Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson lead Cavaliers past Bulls

A year after losing their first six games, the Cleveland Cavaliers are putting a scare into other people during the first week of this season.

Kevin Love, who had 17 points and 20 rebounds in Cleveland’s 117-111 win over Chicago on Wednesday night, went with the Halloween theme while sitting at his locker talking to reporters following the game.

Love donned a hockey mask in honor of Jason, the evil character from the “Friday the 13th” movies. He also arrived at the arena before the game wearing the mask.

“I know my scary movies,” said Love. “That’s my favorite scary movie.”

Cleveland, which has split its first four games didn’t get its second win until its 13th game last season.

Love and Tristan Thompson, who had 23 points 10 rebounds, have had double-doubles in each of Cleveland’s four games.

“We’re just feeding off each other,” Love said. “We talk every day that we need to set the tone for the rest of the team.”

Love’s basket on a goal-tending call on Lauri Markkanen gave Cleveland a 91-90 lead early in the tightly played fourth quarter. His jumper from the left wing put the Cavaliers ahead 110-106 with just under a minute to play.

Collin Sexton, who sat most of the third quarter because of foul trouble, scored 10 points in the final eight minutes, including a dunk over Chicago center Wendell Carter Jr. following an assist from Love on Cleveland’s next possession.

Cleveland’s first-year coach John Beilein’s goal to establish a homecourt advantage for his rebuilding team is off to a good start. The Cavaliers won their home opener over Indiana and rallied to beat the Bulls.

“We talked about that today,” Beilein said. “We want it to be special for us. The goal always is to win at home. We want to continue that trend to have people watch us grow.”

Sexton had 18 points, a day after the Cavaliers exercised his third-year contract option.

Markkanen and Zach LaVine each scored 16 points for Chicago, which has lost three straight. Carter and Otto Porter Jr. added 15 apiece.

The Bulls, who allowed 15 consecutive points in the fourth quarter of Monday’s loss to New York, saw another game get away.

“As the game went on, their energy grew and ours didn’t,” coach Jim Boylen said. “They drove it at us and they rebounded us and brought the physicality you need in the fourth quarter. We battled, but we haven’t played as well in key moments as I hoped they would.”

Chicago went on a 15-0 run to take a 21-11 lead in the first quarter, but led only 53-50 at halftime.

Sexton picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and sat out most of the period. Cleveland hit five 3-pointers, including three by Cedi Osman. Jordan Clarkson was fouled while making a 3-pointer from the corner and converted the free throw.

Source: Manila Bulletin