Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup Monday night, but the team suffered a decisive 108-81 defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics. The game marked Antetokounmpo’s first action since January 23rd, when a right calf strain sidelined the star forward.
Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 25 points, while rookie Hugo González contributed a career-high 18 points and 16 rebounds. Derrick White added 18 points and nine assists for Boston, which has now won three consecutive games and seven of its last eight.
Antetokounmpo played 25 minutes, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Despite his return, the Bucks struggled to contain the Celtics’ offense, falling behind early and never regaining momentum. Milwaukee went 8-7 during Antetokounmpo’s absence and currently holds a 15-16 record with him in the lineup, compared to 11-18 without him.
The Celtics were without five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown due to illness, and likewise rested Neemias Queta, who had a career-high 27 points in the previous game against the Philadelphia 76ers. González, the 28th overall pick in the 2025 draft, made his third career start.
Boston built a significant lead with a 24-5 run spanning the first and second quarters, extending a 15-14 deficit into a commanding 38-20 advantage. The Celtics maintained control throughout the remainder of the game, leading by as many as 22 points.
In other NBA action Monday night, Darius Garland made his debut for the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 12 points in a victory over the Golden State Warriors. Garland came off the bench, playing nearly 23 minutes after being acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline last month. He finished with 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 interception, shooting 4-of-9 from the field.
The Bucks will host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, while Antetokounmpo will be looking to build on his return. Garland and the Clippers will face the Indiana Pacers on the same night.
