Bucks Best Boston in Opener

The Milwaukee Bucks opened their 2017-18 season in impressive fashion on Wednesday night, topping one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders on the road.

Giannis was Giannis in the opener, The Greek Freak leading the way for the Bucks with 37 points. But coach Jason Kidd was most pleased about his group’s collective effort as Milwaukee downed the Celtics in Boston. Four others turned in double-figure scoring nights in a 108-100 win at the TD Garden.

“It wasn’t a pretty game. We missed some shots and made some defensive mistakes, but the guys played through it,” Jason said. “I thought it was a great team win.”

Among those others tallying double digits on the scoreboard, reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon poured in 19 on an efficient 6-of-10 from the field, Matthew Dellavedova and Khris Middleton had 15 and Moose Monroe added 10 points in the post off the bench.

Middleton, who Coach Kidd recently referred to as the Bucks’ security blanket, also led the way in assists with six and grabbed nine boards, second only to Giannis on the squad.

But the name on everybody’s lips after the game was Giannis, after the league’s reigning Most Improved Player turned it up a notch in the opener to help take down one of the teams his Bucks will be fighting with all season in a loaded Eastern Conference title chase.