BOSTON — The most physical series in the 2022 playoff field produced a fresh batch of bruises and floor burns Wednesday night, and this time the Celtics absorbed the worst of it.
Bobby Portis’ putback, followed by Jrue Holiday’s block on Marcus Smart, was the difference in the Celtics’ 110-107 Game 5 loss. The Bucks, paced by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 40-point performance, thus took a 3-2 series lead, with Game 6 set for Friday night in Milwaukee.
Thus wasted was a 34-point Jayson Tatum performance, and another 26 from Jaylen Brown. The Celtics led by 14 points with 10:16 left in the game.
