Milwaukee - A team led by three veteran stars playing the seventh game of an eight-entry game road trip, it would not have been shocking to see the Boston Celtics just the gas.
Instead, they have more than enough energy to slow down and suddenly streaking Milwaukee Bucks disrupted.
Paul Pierce had 25 points scored to help Boston to a 100-91 victory over Milwaukee last night, breaking the Bucks' six-game winning streak.
"It's definitely a good win tonight, especially the way Milwaukee has been playing of late," Pierce said. "This is a mentally strong group. We understand it was a long journey. This is a group that wants to win the next to get and make it a great trip."
Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Mickael Pietrus scored 13 points for the Celtics, on the long road trip to improve 4-3.
"These last two wins were huge," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "We felt like the game, we would have enough rest to play this game. We have two days off, and that helped us."
Brandon Jennings had 19 points for Milwaukee.
It was the Bucks debut for Monta Ellis, who was acquired along with forward Ekpe Udoh in a trade with Golden State Warriors last week. Ellis, who was only in pregame introductions and received a great ovation, had 13 points on a 6-for-18 shooting.
Ellis said he did not have any extra pressure in front of his new hometown fans feel, and as comfortable as his new team can be expected.
"It's still up and down, but I feel comfortable where I am," said Ellis. "Just a few shots to beat."
Milwaukee in four straight games with a 30-plus assist as a team.
They had 23 on Thursday, but committed 15 turnovers and struggled to get the ball down the field to move.
"They took us out," Drew Gooden said.
Gooden struggled for a few recent strong offensive performances, the score of six points on 2 for 12 shooting.
"I have my best game, Monta has not his best game," Gooden said. "A lot of guys have their best game."
And as well as the Bucks played in their recent winning streak, that victory hardly against the NBA's elite teams. Faced with a difficult challenge, the Bucks are not completely measured.
The Bucks coach Scott Skiles has praised Udoh, lower-profile acquisition in the trade, but otherwise was not happy with his defense.
"The only really good defensive minutes we had was when Ekpe in the game was" the Skiles said. "He put everything he does. Other than that, we really struggled tonight."
Before the game, Skiles said he challenged Jennings defend Rajon Rondo something with the Bucks struggled in the past.
The Bucks general Rondo - he had 10 points and 14 assist - but do not have a defensive answer for Pierce.
Rivers before the game said he worried about his team maintain its energy in the last two games of the trip. But it was the Bucks who struggled to piece.
Boston led 74-71 in the fourth quarter, then jump out to a 82-73 lead with a 8-0 run.
With Milwaukee trailing later, 88-77, Jennings missed a jumper and Keyon Dooling hit a long jumper on the other hand, the UP Celtics, 90-77, with 5:54 left.
Milwaukee showed signs of life on a four-point game by Jennings - a layup a foul and a technical on rivers, but the Bucks still trailed, 92-83, with 4:34 left.
Two free throws by Jennings cut the lead to 92-85, but a jumper by Garnett and a layup by Rondo, the Boston ahead 96-85 with 3:26 remaining.
Notes
Rivers before the game said the former Cleveland Cavalier Ryan Hollins expected the Celtics to close when he enters a physical. "It's not official, but he agreed and all the papers are drawn up and hopefully by the end of the day, he will be a Celtic," Rivers said. ... Milwaukee's Carlos Delfino had a scary moment in the third quarter, hurt by a hard hit to the head when he was on the back of his teammate Drew Gooden. After a few minutes on the ground, Delfino continued to play. ... Boston's Brandon Bass appeared to change his ankle at the end of the second quarter, but was able to continue playing. ... Skiles called for a technical foul in the first quarter.
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