BOSTON -- At one point on Friday evening, the Boston Celtics had opened a comfortable lead over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks and a glance at the out-of-town scoreboard revealed the Toronto Raptors had surged ahead of the Brooklyn Nets, all of which put Boston in position for a potential leap to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference on a night the Celtics watched Jared Sullinger make a surprising return to the active roster.
But in just about the time it takes Giannis Antetokounmpo to span the length of an NBA court (so approximately three dribbles), this Friday went from good to bad for the Celtics. The Bucks put up 36 third-quarter points while racing to a 110-101 triumph, Sullinger looked rusty in a brief, three-minute cameo and the Nets got a big late-game putback from Thaddeus Young to edge the Raptors.
All of which left Boston stuck in ninth place in the East but now 1½ games back of a Nets team that will likely provide its biggest competition for the eighth seed. Brooklyn shuffled up to the seventh seed and sits one game up on a Miami Heat team with a favorable schedule over its final seven games.
"We wanted this one; we wanted it bad," Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko said. "I don't know if I can say it's the toughest [loss], but it's one of them. It sucks."
The Celtics had no answer for the Bucks in the third quarter and, down eight less than four minutes into the second half, coach Brad Stevens went with Sullinger looking for a spark. He didn't find it but got one later with an energy lineup that featured Jerebko, Isaiah Thomas, Gigi Datome, Jae Crowder and Kelly Olynyk. Boston surged within six early in the fourth quarter but got no closer thanks in large part to some untimely turnovers.
The Celtics now head north of the border looking to collect themselves before a rare three-day break in the schedule (Boston has had no more than a single day off between games since the All-Star break). The Celtics are left clinging to a 9-1 record in the tail end of back-to-backs since Jan. 23.
"Every game is a must-win, but [Saturday] we need it," said Thomas, who scored a team-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting while trying to rally Boston back. "Kinda like that Charlotte game [on Monday]. We gotta have an attitude like, no matter what, somehow we gotta get that win."
The rapidity with which things turned from good to bad on Friday night should remind Boston just how quickly they can swing back. But the hardest part for Boston is that it does not control its own destiny at the moment. The Celtics need the Nets and/or Heat to stumble a bit in order to open a path to the postseason.
The only thing Boston can do now is focus on what it can control, especially after it failed to do so on Friday night against the Bucks.
Jerebko on missed call: "We all make mistakes"
The Celtics had surged within seven with just more than four minutes in the fourth quarter when Jerebko forced a turnover on the defensive end. Breaking out the other way, Jerebko appeared to get whacked on his right arm by Michael Carter-Williams while attempting to go up with a shot. Instead, the referees ruled it a clean block and Boston simply maintained possession when the ball sailed out of bounds.
The Celtics were whistled for an offensive foul soon after, and Milwaukee quickly pushed its lead back to double digits.
Asked about the no-call from referee David Jones, who was near the play, Jerebko said, "We all make mistakes. It’s not a big deal, not really, so no comment."
Bradley wins 10th annual Auerbach Award
Celtics guard Avery Bradley, the longest tenured member of Boston's overhauled roster, accepted the 10th annual Red Auerbach Award before Friday's game.
The award is given to a Celtics player or coach who best exemplifies the spirit of what it means to be a true Celtic through performance, on the court and off. The award is named in honor of legendary coach, general manager and team president, the late Arnold "Red" Auerbach.
"It’s amazing. I’m truly blessed," Bradley said. "I’m really thankful for my teammates and the coaches, everybody. It’s an honor for me to win that award. I’m just really thankful."
Bradley scored Boston's first nine points on Friday night, then finished with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting with four rebounds over 33:39. Before Friday's game, Stevens spoke highly of Bradley's all-around game this season.
"I just think he's in a good place emotionally," Stevens said. "Offensively, he's gotten better because he's picking his spots a little bit better. And, defensively, he's just continued to become a more well-rounded player. He's a guy that really got into the ball early on and, as a result, really got a lot of positive publicity for his defense. But he's really improved, defensively, on and off the ball, I think, as his career has gone on. He just continues to get better."
The full list of previous Auerbach Award winners: Paul Pierce (2006, 2013), Al Jefferson (2007), Kevin Garnett (2008, 2012), Ray Allen (2009), Rajon Rondo (2010), Doc Rivers (2011) and Brandon Bass (2014).
Eye can see clearly now: Olynyk on the mend
Olynyk said his swollen eye was feeling (and looking) much better on Friday night, two days after producing a 19-point effort just hours after absorbing an elbow that lacerated his left eyelid during a pregame session of one-on-one with teammate Shavlik Randolph. But the Celtics were evidently not taking any chances on fluke re-injury.
"They wouldn't let [Olynyk and Shavlik Randolph] play one-on-one, which is unfortunate," Olynyk said before Friday's game. Asked if those one-on-one games might be done for good, Olynyk smiled and added, "You'll have to ask coach, but I don't think they're really high on it right now."
Olynyk scored five points on 2-of-7 shooting over 19 minutes in Friday's loss. He added four rebounds and three steals.