There have been some really exciting games in the NBA season of 2024–25, but the games between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics have had more people talking than any other. This current rivalry, which has its roots in playoff history and All-Star quality, has once again shown why it’s one of the league’s must-see games. If you love basketball, are a stats nerd, or are just a huge fan, looking closely at the player stats from the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics game can help you understand what makes these games so exciting.
In this in-depth look, we’ll go over each game between the clubs this season, looking at player performances, important stats, and what those numbers tell us about each team’s strengths and shortcomings.
October 28, 2024: Celtics Sink Bucks with Sharp Shooting in Game 1
The two giants met for the first time early in the season, and it was great. The Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119–108 in front of a loud crowd at TD Garden. They did it with a strong third quarter and some great play from their bench.
With 30 points, Jaylen Brown was the Celtics’ top scorer. He showed off his usual mix of speed and skill. Payton Pritchard, who came off the bench to score a season-high 28 points, including 8 three-pointers, was the star of the show. These points were very important in expanding the gap.
Damian Lillard had a great game for the Bucks, scoring 33 points and grabbing 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo also scored 30 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and gave 6 assists, doing everything he could to help Milwaukee stay in the game. The Bucks couldn’t keep up with Boston’s outside shooting, even with both players playing well.
Breakdown of Stats:
The Celtics made 18 of 50 three-pointers (36%) and had 53 rebounds and 27 assists.
The Bucks made 13 of 32 three-point shots (41%), got 48 rebounds, and gave out 21 assists.
Boston’s ability to get extra possessions and make big baskets from outside made the difference. This game set the stage for what would be a frustrating pattern for the Bucks.
November 10, 2024: Giannis is the best player, but the Celtics keep fighting
When the Bucks played the Celtics again a few weeks later, it felt like a statement game. Giannis scored an incredible 42 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, making it hard for Boston’s inside defenders to stop him. The Greek Freak played his best, but the Celtics still won 113–107 in Milwaukee.
Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to match Giannis’s great play. He also had six assists and stayed calm and collected in the end. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday each scored in double digits and played solid defence.
But the other players on Milwaukee’s team didn’t step up. Damian Lillard had a quieter night, scoring 14 points. He had trouble getting into a groove against Boston’s tough perimeter defence. Giannis’s work wasn’t enough on its own.
Important Numbers:
Giannis scored 42 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and made 5 assists.
Tatum: 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists
Points from the bench: Celtics 35, Bucks 22
Once again, Boston’s bench made a difference, as Milwaukee’s lack of reliable secondary scoring was made clear. It was evident that the Celtics had more dependable depth.
On December 6, 2024, the Celtics won Game 3 and the season sweep
The Celtics won their third and final regular-season game (so far) against the other team, 111–105. Back at home, Boston played well, thanks in large part to Jayson Tatum’s strong performance, which included 34 points and 10 rebounds.
Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, and the squad made 17 three-pointers, which was too fast for Milwaukee’s defence to handle. Lillard scored 31 points and Giannis scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but the Bucks’ other players couldn’t do enough to change the game’s momentum.
Khris Middleton came back from an injury, but his 11 points in a short amount of time weren’t enough to help the Bucks win. Once again, Boston’s better shooting and passing made all the difference.
The last numbers are:
The Celtics made 17 threes, shot 48.5% from the field, and had 26 assists.
Bucks: 9 made threes, 47% of their shots, and 19 assists
It was evident that when the Celtics hit their shots from deep, they were almost hard to stop.
Player stats that tell the story of the stars
The best players in the league shone out in these three games. But even though both teams have stars, Boston’s core was more consistent and deeper, which gave them the edge.
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics has an average of 27.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists against the Bucks.
Tatum not only scored the most points, but he also helped a lot in rebounding and making plays. He was calm and efficient in all three encounters.
Jaylen Brown plays for the Boston Celtics. He averages 25.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game against the Bucks.
Brown became a prolific scorer, driving to the basket and hitting jumpers from the outside. In Game 1, he played a very important role.
Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics has an average of 18.3 points per game against the Bucks (off the bench).
The biggest unknown. Pritchard’s scoring off the bench helped Boston a lot in every game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks averages 34.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game against the Celtics.
Giannis was at his best, but even his Herculean efforts weren’t enough to win the game by himself.
Damian Lillard plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. He averages 26.0 points and 6.3 assists per game against the Celtics.
There were moments of brilliance, but they weren’t consistent enough to beat Boston’s shooters.
What the Numbers Show About the Matchup
When you look at the player numbers during the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics game, you can see a few themes that go beyond simply the box scores:
Boston’s depth is more reliable. Giannis and Lillard are great players, but Boston can count on Tatum, Brown, Pritchard, White, and Holiday, all of whom have come through in critical games.
The difference is in three-point shooting. Boston made more three-pointers than Milwaukee in all three games, and frequently by a large margin. That’s a big difference now.
Giannis can’t do everything. Milwaukee has a hard time closing out games, even when their MVP scores more over 40 points, since their supporting cast doesn’t show up.
The Celtics’ defence makes stars work hard. Giannis and Lillard both had to work hard to get their points. Give Boston’s plans and tough defence credit for making it hard to score easy baskets.
What to Expect Next Time They Meet
Many people think the Bucks and Celtics will meet in the playoffs. The regular season games provide a preview of what will happen. Boston knows what to do: shoot well from long range, play disciplined team defence, and get points from every level of their rotation.
On the other hand, Milwaukee needs more from their role players. The Bucks can’t only count on Khris Middleton growing better, Bobby Portis stepping up, or Malik Beasley making jumpers to win a seven-game series.
Last Thoughts
Fans have had a lot to say about these three games, and the data show how the player stats from the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics game are developing this rivalry. Every game has felt like a mini playoff duel, from Tatum’s all-around greatness to Giannis’s never-ending dominance.
But if there’s one thing to learn from these games, it’s that depth and shooting win games. Right now, that’s what the Celtics have going for them.
If you want a chart with these stats broken down by player or an infographic version, just let me know.