Milwaukee Bucks Game 2 Preview: April 17 at Boston Celtics

Major key for Milwaukee – Eliminate turnovers and fouls

For a game that ended up in overtime, the Milwaukee Bucks gifted the Boston Celtics an incredible amount of points in Game 1.

Excluding any defensive lapses, turnovers and cheap fouls meant the Bucks fueled Boston’s efforts throughout Sunday afternoon’s matchup.

The Bucks finished with a total of 20 turnovers, with the Celtics capitalizing to the tune of 27 points on those giveaways, while Milwaukee also amassed 31 personal fouls, which helped Boston to 24 points from the free throw line.

For context, the Bucks’ regular season averages consisted of 13.8 turnovers and 21.4 personal fouls per game. An increase in turnovers was to be expected against the NBA’s best defensive team, but the extent to which the Bucks coughed the ball up was troublesome.

As much as a number of Celtics stepped up impressively on the offensive end on Sunday, there can be no disputing that the Bucks’ carelessness was something of a catalyst for them. If the Bucks want to return to Milwaukee with a win under their belts, they need to be more disciplined and attentive. They need to make the Celtics prove they can score enough to beat them again.