The Boston Celtics didn't have Jayson Tatum, and for a while Wednesday night it looked like it might cost them. It didn't. Paul George scored 25 points with five 3-pointers, Derrick White added 24 points and seven assists, and Boston held off the Milwaukee Bucks 109-102.

The Celtics built their cushion early, then spent much of the second half surviving rather than thriving. Milwaukee kept the pressure on late, but Boston's backcourt production — and George's timely shooting from deep — kept the Bucks from ever completing the comeback.

Winning a conference matchup without their star forward is the kind of result that travels well for Boston. George and White combining for 49 points showed the Celtics can generate enough offense from their secondary options when Tatum sits — a useful data point this early in the season.