Bucks edge Celtics in overtime for 11th win

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jrue Holiday has shown why he’s heading to the All-Star Game for the first time in a decade.

Holiday had a season-high 40 points plus a triple lead with 25.2 seconds left in overtime. Thus, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the decimated Boston Celtics on Tuesday 131-125 for their 11th victory.

The 32-year-old Holiday made eight of 12 3-pointers, including one from near midfield just before the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter. Never before in his career had he made so many three-point shots.

“Actually, I guess I don’t care how I play as long as we’re winning,” said Holiday, who also had seven assists. “For me, as long as we win them, it’s fine. The only stat I pay attention to is turnover. This is how I determine if I had a good or bad game. How many did I have today, five? For me, this is what can hurt my soul.

Holiday will join teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. He hadn’t been drafted since 2013, when he was in Philadelphia.

That’s the longest time between All-Star Game appearances in NBA history.

“I’ve been saying this since the start of the season: he deserves to be in the All-Star Game,” said Antetokounmpo, who added 36 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.

The Bucks (40-17), who came within half a game of the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics (41-17).

Boston played without stars Jayson Tatum, who has an illness other than COVID-19, and Marcus Smart, who sprained his right ankle. Dominican center Al Horford didn’t show up either, due to inflammation in his right knee.

Even so, the Celtics came close to earning what would have been their fifth straight win.

Wisconsin State native Sam Houser tied the game with a three-pointer three seconds from the end of regulation, to force overtime. Derrick White got the first five points of overtime for Boston.

The Celtics still had a five-point lead with two minutes remaining, but the Bucks got the game’s final seven points.