Bucks defense shuts down Tatum, Celtics, Milwaukee takes Game 1

Against the Nets’ “defense,” the Celtics’ offense looked elite in their first-round series, with a net rating of 120.7 — a number that would have been the best in the regular season by 3 points per 100 possessions.

That may have been a mirage.

Against the physicality of the length of the Bucks defense in Game 1, Jayson Tatum shot 6-of-18, Jaylen Brown 4-of-13, Marcus Smart 3-of-11, and the Celtics’ offensive rating was 89.9.

That was a problem. Boston’s other big problem? Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in basketball, and while the Celtics’ defense did a respectable job on him, the two-time MVP still had 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. He also threw an alley-oop off the backboard to himself for a slam.

The result was a Bucks team picking up a Game 1 win on the road 101-89 — and doing it without Khris Middleton (whose status to return later in the series remains unclear). Milwaukee has a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 on Tuesday in Boston.

This was a defensive game and the Celtics did a good job making it difficult for Antetokounmpo to simply put his head down and get to the rim. Al Horford, in particular, had a strong defensive game matched up with the Greek Freak. However, in the past couple of seasons Antetokounmpo’s game has evolved — he’s an improved playmaker and found teammates for a dozen assists, plus he picked up six points on second-chance buckets.

Antetokounmpo also got help from his running mates. Jrue Holiday stepped up with 25 points for the Bucks, Bobby Portis had 15, and Grayson Allen shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and finished with 11.

However, it was the Bucks’ defense that frustrated the Celtics and won this game.

First, the Bucks are too disciplined to be easily forced into switches and