Celtics Beat Bucks 117-97 as Paul George Scores 27 Points

The Boston Celtics secured a decisive 117-97 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night, continuing their momentum through a four-game road trip.

Paul George led the scoring effort with 27 points, while Jayson Tatum contributed 21 points in the win, ESPN reported.

Boston’s performance allowed them to build a lead large enough to rest Tatum for the entire fourth quarter. The Celtics currently hold an 8-2 record for the season. This victory follows a 109-102 win against Milwaukee on Wednesday, a game in which Boston opted to rest Tatum.

The loss leaves the Milwaukee Bucks at a 1-9 record. This marks the franchise’s worst start since the 1993-94 season, a year in which the team lost 10 of its first 11 games and eventually finished with a 20-62 record.

INSTANT REACTION: Paul George continues to come through for Celtics in win over Bucks

Milwaukee initially found success through Kyle Kuzma, who scored 14 points in the first five minutes to help the Bucks establish an early 20-6 lead. However, the game shifted when Tatum and George orchestrated an 18-0 run. This surge allowed Boston to take control during the first half.

Tatum scored the final 10 points of the first quarter to narrow Milwaukee’s lead to 27-25. George then opened the second quarter with eight points, including a three-pointer in the first minute that gave Boston its first lead at 28-27. Following a layup and another three-pointer, George completed the 18-0 run, sending the Celtics into halftime with a 58-45 advantage.

CELTICS at BUCKS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | November 8, 2026

The Celtics maintained their dominance in the second half. Boston opened the third period with a nine-point run to extend their lead to 22 points. They held a margin of at least 15 points for the remainder of the game.

While Kuzma provided the bulk of Milwaukee’s scoring, the Bucks struggled with efficiency from other key players. Myles Turner, for instance, managed only three points despite recording five rebounds and a career-high seven assists. This performance follows a difficult stretch for Turner, who has shot just 1 of 15 over his last two games, including a scoreless outing in a recent loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Player	Team	Points Scored
Paul George	Boston Celtics	27
Kyle Kuzma	Milwaukee Bucks	27
Jayson Tatum	Boston Celtics	21
Myles Turner	Milwaukee Bucks	3

The disparity in scoring and momentum highlights the current gap between a surging Boston squad and a Milwaukee team searching for stability. The Bucks’ struggle to contain Boston’s scoring runs has become a recurring theme in their early-season difficulties.

The Celtics will now travel to face Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Bucks are scheduled to play in New York on Tuesday.