Brad Stevens. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- The Celtics were on the road, missing their top four guards, including an All-Star and their sixth man, they turned the ball over 17 times, were out-rebounded, allowed the Bucks to shoot nearly 55 percent, and had to rely on rookie Kadeem Allen to play 23 minutes after he entered the game with only 39 career minutes under his belt.
...And Boston still only lost by four points to a fully staffed Milwaukee team desperate for a win.
Still, a loss is a loss and the C's couldn't take advantage of the Cavaliers' win over the Raptors, which means the Celts still trail the Raps by two games entering Wednesday night's showdown in Toronto at 8 p.m.
So what's the key, with Brad Stevens' club so shorthanded?
"We've got to be ready to do everything we can to all be prepared to play a little bit better," he said. "We've played really well in this last six-game stretch. We've got no knock on our compete or our desire, or the way we went about it tonight--we were playing hard."
Celts have won six of their last seven overall and two of three in the season-series. The home team's won every meeting.
Raptors have dropped five of eight since an 11-game winning streak.
Both clubs are down to their final five games of the regular season.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports