BOSTON — It looked like the Boston Celtics were going to waltz to a blowout win over the struggling Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night — even with Celtics star Jayson Tatum out due to rest. They jumped out to a 21-point lead at halftime and the Bucks were turning the ball over nonstop. Then the second half arrived, and the Bucks bounced back and even took the lead in the fourth quarter.

Boston clutched up down the stretch, though, getting huge buckets from Celtics guard Derrick White and first-year Celtic Paul George. White recorded a game-high 11 points in the final frame while the latter was close behind with 9 points during that crucial span. White and George's late-game heroics, as well as solid team defense, secured a 109-102 victory for the C's at TD Garden.

White finished the narrow win with 24 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds in 36 minutes. Meanwhile, George notched a team-high 25 points to go along with 5 assists and 4 steals. Generally, the Celtics would look to point guard Payton Pritchard for a big-time bucket on a night when Tatum was sidelined, yet the 2025 Sixth Man of the Year left the contest in the third quarter with a right eye abrasion and never returned.

The Celtics still managed to overcome the absences of Tatum and Pritchard to remain undefeated at home and improve to 6-2 on the season. Up next, they travel south to face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night as part of NBA Cup group play.