(SportsNetwork.com) - Two of Milwaukee's NBA-worst nine wins have come against the Boston Celtics. The Bucks look to add to their record when they welcome the Celtics to the Bradley Center Monday night.
Milwaukee is 2-1 against Boston this season and has won five of the last seven matchups between the Eastern Conference inhabitants. The two teams have split the previous eight encounters in Brew City.
The Bucks opened a six-game homestand with Saturday's 101-95 loss to the Houston Rockets, as Dwight Howard finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and five assists to power the visitors.
Brandon Knight led Milwaukee with 23 points and Khris Middleton had 20 and eight assists for the Bucks, who have lost 17 of their last 19. Middleton sank a trio of free throws after he was fouled behind the 3-point line and made all three shots for a 98-95 difference.
However, the Rockets did not allow Milwaukee to come any closer.
"We just couldn't get over the hump," Bucks head coach Larry Drew said. "I thought for the most part we hung in there."
Nate Wolters scored a career-high 19 points, John Henson ended with 14 and 10 rebounds and Zaza Pachulia ended with 12 points and 10 boards.
The Bucks are 5-19 at the Bradley Center, where New Orleans, Orlando, Denver and Indiana are scheduled to visit. On the injury front for Milwaukee, forwards Ersan Ilyasova (back) and Larry Sanders (vision), guard Luke Ridnour (back) and center Ekpe Udoh (ankle) are questionable Monday.
Boston, meanwhile, will play five of its next six games on the road and had a three-game winning streak stopped with Sunday's 102-91 home loss to Dallas.
The Celtics managed just 18 points in the third quarter (28-18), but came alive in the fourth by scoring 35 of the 65 points. However, it wasn't enough to keep the winning streak intact and Boston shot just 35.9 percent. Jeff Green led the Celtics with 18 points, Rajon Rondo chipped in 15, 12 assists and eight rebounds and Jared Sullinger added 11 points and 12 boards.
"The third quarter and the start of the fourth killed us and took us out of the game," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said.
Chris Johnson (14) and Kris Humphries (10) also reached double digits in scoring for the Celtics.
Boston has a 7-18 record on the road and is just 2-11 in the last 13 contests away from TD Garden. After a quick trip back home to host San Antonio on Wednesday, the Celtics will play four straight out west against the Suns, Lakers, Kings and Jazz.
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