Boston Celtics 'hit in mouth', outmuscled by Milwaukee Bucks in physical Game 1

BOSTON — The Milwaukee Bucks punched first.

In Sunday's Game 1 against the Boston Celtics, the Bucks played with their usual level of physicality on defense and it seemed to catch Boston off guard.

After jumping ahead in the first quarter, the Celtics couldn't find their footing the rest of the way as Milwaukee cruised to a 101-89 victory.

«Give credit to Milwaukee,» Boston forward Jaylen Brown said. «They did a good job and had a good plan but we missed a lot of open shots. They hit us in the mouth so we gotta be ready for the next one.»

While the Celtics were 18-of-50 on their 3-pointers, the team shot just 10-of-31 (32.3%) in the paint. That's the worst paint field goal percentage by any team in a playoff game since the 2017 Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals (27.3%), and the worst by a Celtics team in the playoffs in any game over the last 25 years.

Brown, who came in with a lingering hamstring injury, shot 4-of-13 from the field while teammate Jayson Tatum was 6-of-18. Combined, the 32.3% field goal percentage was their worst in a playoff game as a duo.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka said the Bucks' physicality was something that took Boston out of its sets early, but that it shouldn't have caught the team off guard.

«We have to obviously play with a little bit better poise and you know, not get rushed at times,» Udoka said.

Brown said the playoffs are not the time to be surprised by something an opposing team does, especially considering Milwaukee's history.

«They're the defending champs and we gotta come out and play basketball,» Brown said. «We have to be ready to go no matter what the injury is or whatever it is that we're dealing with. You gotta have everybody connected and mentally locked