MILWAUKEE – The Boston Celtics, who are on the tail end of a four-games-in-five-nights stretch, could not have timed Friday night's 128-98 blowout win over the Orlando Magic any better.
Boston, which led by as many as 40 points Friday night, was able to rest four of its starters through the entirety of the final frame, meaning those players should feel fresh tonight when they tip off against the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I think we try to do our best to make sure they get appropriate rest in every game so that we can perform night-in, night-out,” said Brad Stevens ahead of the 8 p.m. tip-off at BMO Harris Bradley Center. “But certainly it was good to be able to sit a couple of those guys in the fourth quarter.”
Jaylen Brown, who played a team-high 30 minutes Friday night, was Boston's only starter who played during the fourth quarter against Orlando. No other member of the starting lineup played more than 28 minutes.
“It was great to get (one of) our first blowouts of the year and be able to rest in the fourth quarter,” said Isaiah Thomas Friday night, after he saw less than 25 minutes of action against the Magic. “I mean, I wanted to play (during the fourth), really, but it was good to get one of those wins. We haven't had this season, so it was good for our confidence and to know that we played the right way and we took care of business.”
The hope is that the extra rest will allow Boston to take care of business again tonight, as the C's will look to close out their busiest week of the season with a win against a very skilled and athletic Bucks team.
– Taylor C. Snow
Starting Lineups
Celtics: Isaiah Thomas, Jaylen Brown, Jae Crowder, Jonas Jerebko, Amir Johnson
Bucks: Matthew Dellavedova, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tony Snell, Jabari Parker, Thon Maker
