The Milwaukee Bucks traded away All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday last season to get Damian Lillard. Friday night, Holiday made his old team pay down the stretch.
With the Celtics clinging to a three-point lead in the final minute, Holiday took a pass from Jayson Tatum, drove past a closeout from Khris Middleton and sank a floater from the free-throw line. Then, after Middleton made all three of his free throws, Holiday made both of his foul shots to ice the game with 14.2 seconds left, and Boston held on to beat the Bucks 111-105.
Holiday finished the game with 20 points, six assists, a steal and a block in the win. Lillard finished with 31 points, four assists and a steal. Both players made four three-pointers, but Holiday did it on nine attempts, compared to Lillard’s 12.
This season, Holiday is averaging 18.7 points and shooting 51.2 percent against his old team, making 45.8 percent of his three-pointers. Boston is now 3-0 against the Bucks this season and 7.5 games ahead of them in the standings. The team is outscoring Milwaukee in three games by 9.3 points per game when Holiday is on the floor.
For his part, Holiday has been gracious about the trade. On FanDuel TV in November, Holiday didn’t blame the Bucks for dealing him.
“On paper, that trade, adding Dame — out of 10 people, who wouldn’t make that trade?” Holiday said. “I wouldn’t, just because it’s me. But that’s just how it goes. That’s how the business works.”
Still, it has to feel good to beat the Bucks in a close game. Though it probably felt even better to win an NBA title while the Bucks lost in the first round.
