Celtics 112, Bucks 96: Boston moves on to face Philadelphia

BOSTON – NBA players make a name for themselves in a Game 7.

Everyone knows Terry Rozier’s name now.

At the conclusion of a series in which Rozier and Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe went back and forth for seven games – with Bledsoe claiming he didn’t know who Rozier was early in the series – it was Rozier who delivered a barrage of 3- [...]

BOSTON – NBA players make a name for themselves in a Game 7.

Everyone knows Terry Rozier’s name now.

At the conclusion of a series in which Rozier and Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe went back and forth for seven games – with Bledsoe claiming he didn’t know who Rozier was early in the series – it was Rozier who delivered a barrage of 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter to put the deciding touches on a 112-96 victory.

Rozier finished the night with 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists as he enjoyed the last laugh and his moment in the spotlight.

Al Horford scored 26 points with eight rebounds, and Jayson Tatum scored 20 points with six rebounds, as the Celtics survived the loss of Jaylen Brown in the second quarter from right hamstring soreness to extend their season.

Khris Middleton scored 32 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 for the Bucks.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers is Monday night at TD Garden.

Rozier has his share of tough moments on the road in the series, but was lights out in front of a Garden crowd that embraced him as he attempts to fill the massive shoes of injured five-time All-Star Kyrie Irving. Rozier was at his best in the critical sequence of the series as he helped stretch the lead to 19 midway through the fourth before the Celtics counted down to the final buzzer of their series clincher.

Up 14 entering the fourth after stretching a three-point lead from early in the second half to 16 late in the third quarter, the Celtics got it back to 16 behind three straight makes from Marcus Morris before a Shane Larkin drive had Boston up 87-72 with 9:21 on the clock. Aron Baynes scored inside and Marcus Smart drew the fifth foul on Antetokounmpo before Antetokounmpo drove for a 12-point game into a timeout with 7:21 to play.

A Rozier corner 3-pointer and a free throw after a steal from Bledose had the Celtics up 16. Middleton hit a 3-pointer when Tatum responded with a drive and a 95-80 lead with 6:16 to play.

The Celtics then showed former Patriots quarter Drew Bledsoe – “The Real Drew Bledsoe” – with a message on the Jumbotron and Rozier responded to the crowd with back-to-back 3-pointers and a 101-82 lead with 5:17 left in the series.

A Rozier drive put the Celtics up 105-91 as the clock ticked under two minutes before Larkin wrapped the series up in a bow with a 3-pointer with 50 seconds remaining.

The Celtics used a 20-2 run to end the first quarter – behind a bench unit and Tatum – to build a 13-point lead after one. The Bucks shot back with 10 in a row to pull within two before Brad Stevens called a belated timeout, and the Celtics answered with nine in a row.

A Rozier 3-pointer had Boston up 46-34 with 3:54 when they lost Brown for the night after he grabbed at his right thigh and left the game for the half as the Celtics took a 50-42 lead into the break.

Brown ran sprints at midcourt late in halftime trying to get the thigh loose, but Smart had to start in his place as the Bucks went on a 9-2 run to pull within three, and Brown never returned despite spending the second half on the bench in uniform. Horford then reached and ripped back the momentum as he hit his first five shots of the second half with his basket with 7:02 left in the third putting Boston up 63-53.

A Semi Ojeleye 3-pointer had Boston back up 11 before the teams traded baskets into a Rozier drove and 74-63 lead into a timeout with 2:59 on the clock. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Morris and Tatum had Boston up 16 with 1:03 left before Boston hit the fourth ahead 81-67.