Paul George and Jayson Tatum lead Celtics to a 117-97 victory over the Bucks

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Paul George scored 27 points, Jayson Tatum added 21 and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 117-97 victory over the slumping Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.

This marked the second matchup between these teams in five nights. The Celtics had beaten the Bucks 109-102 on Wednesday in Boston while resting Tatum.

Boston (8-2) built a big enough lead Sunday to sit Tatum for the entire fourth quarter as the Celtics continued a four-game trip that started with a 119-80 win at Charlotte on Friday. The Celtics next head to Philadelphia and Toronto.

Kyle Kuzma led Milwaukee with 27 points.

Myles Turner scored just three points for the Bucks, though he did have five rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Turner, who has shot 1 of 15 over his last two games, was coming off a scoreless performance in a 121-107 NBA Cup loss to the Toronto Raptors on Frieday.

The Bucks (1-9) are off to their worst start since 1993-94, when they lost 10 of their first 11 games and went on to finish 20-62.

Kuzma scored 14 points in the first five minutes of the game to help Milwaukee grab an early 20-6 lead. Tatum and George sparked an 18-0 run that enabled the Celtics to take control later in the first half.

Tatum scored the final 10 points of the first quarter to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 27-25. George delivered the first eight points of the second period.

George’s 3-pointer in the opening minute of the second quarter gave Boston its first lead at 28-27. George then hit a layup and another 3-pointer to cap the 18-0 spurt.

Boston owned a 58-45 halftime advantage. The Celtics scored the first nine points of the third period to extend their lead to 22, and they stayed in front by at least 15 the rest of the way.

Celtics: At Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

Bucks: At New York on Tuesday night.

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Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) block a shot by Milwaukee Bucks forward Nate Ament, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) scores a three-point basket against the Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla speaks to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) handles the ball against Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) handles the ball against Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma, left, as Boston Celtics' Neemias Queta (88) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg had 25 points and a career-high 12 assists for his third consecutive double-double and fourth of the season as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 130-93 on Sunday night.

Kyrie Irving scored 21 points and Daniel Gafford added 18 as the Mavericks played the first of a home back-to-back.

Michael Porter Jr. had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, who were swept in a back-to-back to begin a four-game road trip. Nolan Traore added 14 points.

The Nets didn’t trail until the final two minutes of Saturday’s 124-121 loss at Atlanta but never led against the Mavericks.

Flagg, last season’s Rookie of the Year, had his 16th career 20-point half and first this season after opening hot by hitting 5 of 6 shots in the first period. He had missed 6 of 8 shots and scored four points in the first half on Friday against Utah but finished with 21 points in Dallas’ 112-100 win.

The Mavericks shot a season best 57.1% and scored a season high in points on Sunday. They led 66-46 at halftime, and the 37-point final margin was the largest of the game.

Brooklyn’s Julius Randle grew up in the Dallas area and went into play averaging 23.5 points in his homecoming games but finished with 13 points.

Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr., who tied his career-high with 18 points on Saturday, sat out, not yet cleared for back-to-backs as he recovers from a back injury that limited him to 21 games last season for Louisville.

Nets: Visit New Orleans on Wednesday night.

Mavericks: Host Indiana on Monday night.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle (30) drives against Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17) dribbles against Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Teammates Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) and guard Kyrie Irving (11) embrace as the look on from the floor during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg waits to sub in to play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reaches for the pass against Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)