Hugo Gonzalez had his best game for the Boston Celtics on Monday, putting up 18 points and 16 rebounds in an 81-108 road win over the Milawukee Bucks, overshadowing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return from a month-long injury.
Gonzalez played his third game as a starter this season (the first since January) and signed his second double-double in the NBA, in a display of offensive and defensive play by the Madrid native, to whom the court became too small.
Sign historic night in Boston
Joe Mazzulla entrusted him with Antetokounmpo’s defense, and the Madrid rookie responded brilliantly:
18 points, 16 rebounds -11 defensive and 5 offensive-, three steals, two blocks and one assist for only one loss.
No rookie, since the legendary Larry Bird, had signed these numbers in Boston.
In total, Hugo Gonzalez played 35 minutes and 20 seconds and the Celtics recorded a +27 differential while he was on the court.
It was a magical night for Gonzalez, full of records:
He shattered his previous marks for points (14), rebounds (11) and minutes played (30:17).
Holds back Antetokounmpo
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“The work ethic is there. I just try to keep doing what I do and keep trusting.”
“Obviously, not every day is going to be like today, but I’m confident in the work.”
“I thank the teammates who played great defense and allowed me to grab some rebounds,” said Hugo Gonzalez of the Boston Celtics in court-side remarks.
In addition, Gonzalez’s defense on Antetokounmpo paid off:
The Greek finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but with a 38.9% shooting percentage from the field after making only 7 of his 18 attempts, far from the 64.5% he averages this season.
Antetokounmpo was making his comeback more than 5 weeks after injuring his right calf and showed an obvious lack of rhythm.
Weight fenders
The work ethic is there
Hugo González
In this rookie season, Mazzulla has entrusted Hugo Gonzalez with the responsibility of defending the league’s stars.
Like Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchello and Antetokounmpo himself, although the Madrid native attributed the success of the mission to the collective effort.
“I think these types of players can’t be marked by just one person, because they are some of the best players in the world.”
“Giannis is an incredible player, and you can’t stop him with just one. We have to try to do it as a team, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he explained.
With Hugo Gonzalez leading the Celtics without Jaylen Brown, the game didn’t have much of a story.
Boston took the lead in the first quarter and never relinquished it.
In the last quarter, the Bucks took a maximum lead of +31, a scolding of the Bucks at the Fiserv Forum.
Pritchard and White endorse Hugo
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Hugo Gonzalez was joined by Payton Pritchard, a regular partner in Mazzulla’s second unit, with 25 points and 9 assists.
Derrick White added another 18 points.
Antetokounmpo was the best of a dry Bucks, in which only Ousmane Dieng (13) and Bobby Portis (12) also surpassed ten points.
The Celtics (41-20) are in second place in the East, five games behind the Detroit Pistons (45-14).
Meanwhile, the Bucks (26-34) are in the elimination zone, 3.5 games behind the Charlotte Hornets (30-31), who currently hold the final postseason berth.
With information from EFE
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