Celtics Daily

The Boston Celtics, playing without Jayson Tatum, built a 21-point halftime lead, survived a 38-point third quarter from Milwaukee, gave up the lead for the first time all night in the fourth quarter, and still closed it out, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 109-102 at TD Garden to improve to 6-2.

Paul George led all scorers with 25 points in his return, Derrick White added 24, and the two fueled a late seven-point run — White's free throws and Neemias Queta's block on Ryan Rollins sealing it — after Payton Pritchard exited in the third quarter with a right eye abrasion.

What it means: Boston wakes up 6-2, third in the East and 5-0 at home — but the second-half defense was a warning. Next up: at the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, November 6, in NBA Cup play, with Tatum and Pritchard day to day.

Segments: the recap in depth, the 22-point lead and the Bucks' comeback, George and White closing it out, Pritchard's eye injury and Tatum's rest night, what 6-2 means, and the look ahead to Charlotte on Friday, November 6.

Unofficial and independent; not affiliated with the Boston Celtics or the NBA.

Part of the Curious & Creative network. Back tomorrow.

The streak is over. Houston beat Boston 109-93 at the Toyota Center on Monday night, November 2, in a game the Celtics never led. Alperen Sengun carved Boston up with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists, Houston won the paint 50-34 and the fast break 18-2, and Boston's shooters went cold on the second night of a back-to-back without Paul George: Derrick White 3-for-12, Payton Pritchard 0-for-7. Jayson Tatum had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists, Neemias Queta scored 16 on 6-of-7 shooting, and Luka Garza added 14 off the bench. Boston falls to 5-2; Houston is 7-1.

Segments: the recap in depth, Sengun's near triple-double, Queta vs. the center rotation, the White and Pritchard cold night, what the loss means, and the look ahead to Milwaukee at TD Garden on Wednesday, November 4.

Unofficial and independent; not affiliated with the Boston Celtics or the NBA.

Part of the Curious & Creative network. Back tomorrow.

The Celtics beat the Magic 108-97 in Orlando for their fifth straight win, moving to 5-1. Jayson Tatum scored 32 points (15-of-17 at the free throw line) with 7 assists, returned after a first-quarter head knock, and closed it late; Paul George added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists with 10 points in the fourth; Neemias Queta started for the resting Mitchell Robinson and delivered 8 points, 9 rebounds and late blocks; Luka Garza (12 points) and Baylor Scheierman (10 points) led the bench. Boston won despite shooting 12-for-44 from three, on 14 offensive rebounds, 29 assists, nine steals and seven blocks. Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva scored 23 each for Orlando (2-4).

Segments: the scoring arc and turning points, Tatum's night, George the closer, the Queta-Garza center answer, what 5-1 means in the East, and a look ahead to Monday night at Houston.

Unofficial and independent; not affiliated with the Boston Celtics or the NBA.

Part of the Curious & Creative network. Back tomorrow.

Boston is 4-1 and winners of four straight, but the center rotation is the one thing that has not worked yet: Mitchell Robinson's slow start, Neemias Queta's foul trouble, and a 20-to-9 offensive-rebounding loss to Chicago on Friday. Plus the injury report for today's game at Orlando, the cap math behind the Paul George trade, and the week ahead.

Segments: the state of the team at 4-1; the news block and injury report; the deep dive on the center rotation; the salary-cap segment; Orlando today and the back-to-back at Houston tomorrow.

Unofficial and independent; not affiliated with the Boston Celtics or the NBA.

Part of the Curious & Creative network. Back tomorrow.

Boston opened NBA Cup play with a wire-to-wire statement at TD Garden: a season-high 78-point first half, a lead that touched 32, and a 125-111 win over Chicago. Payton Pritchard scored a season-high 30 off the bench, Jayson Tatum added 26 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and Paul George had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists as the Celtics won their fourth straight to move to 4-1.

Segments: the 44-point first quarter; Pritchard's bench takeover; the center minutes (Queta 13, Robinson 11); Chicago's third-quarter push; and what 1-0 in Group C means with Orlando next on Sunday.

Unofficial and independent; not affiliated with the Boston Celtics or the NBA.

Part of the Curious & Creative network. Back tomorrow.

Boston 125, Brooklyn 124 in overtime: Jayson Tatum scores 40 and wins it at the buzzer, and the Celtics sit 3-1. But the center problem is real: foul trouble, missed free throws, and a thin margin behind the starters. Plus the injury report, team news, and tonight's NBA Cup opener against Chicago at TD Garden.

Part of the Curious & Creative network.