Paul George scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 21 as the Boston Celtics overcame a slow start to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-97 in Milwaukee on Sunday.

The win was Boston's third in a row and its second over Milwaukee in four days. The Celtics improved to 8-2, while the Bucks fell to 1-9 after a sixth consecutive defeat.

Bucks race out of the blocks

Milwaukee made the early running. Kyle Kuzma scored 14 points as the Bucks opened up a 20-6 lead, and the home side were still 14 points clear midway through the first quarter.

Boston hit back with an 18-0 run either side of the quarter break. Tatum scored the last 10 points of the opening period, including four three-pointers, and George scored the first eight of the second quarter. The Celtics shot just 8 of 24 from the field in the first quarter but trailed by only two at the break, 27-25, and led 58-45 at half-time after winning the second quarter 33-18.

George finished with 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 5 of 10 from three-point range. Tatum scored 21, with 16 of them coming in the first quarter, and added six assists. Sixteen of Tatum's points came before the end of the opening period, and George matched that scoring burst in the second.

Celtics pull clear after the break

Milwaukee missed their first seven shots of the third quarter as Boston stretched the lead to 74-49 on a steal and dunk from Tatum. Tyler Herro gave the Bucks a scare when he left the court after landing awkwardly on his right knee with 8:56 left in the third, but he returned to the game with 4:34 on the clock and finished with 13 points.

Boston led 91-74 going into the final quarter and rested Tatum for the whole of it, with George sitting for most of it. Payton Pritchard stepped up in their absence, hitting three three-pointers as the Celtics cruised to the finish. Pritchard scored all 12 of his points from beyond the arc.

Mitchell Robinson added 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals in 18 minutes off the bench, and Neemias Queta chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds. Boston outrebounded Milwaukee 48-36, including 20 offensive boards.

Kuzma led the Bucks with 27 points, 21 of them in the first half, and hit 6 of 13 from three-point range. His 21 first-half points already passed his previous season high.

What next for the Celtics

Boston have now won eight of their last nine games. Their next test is a prime-time trip to Philadelphia on Tuesday, where they face the 76ers and former Celtic Jaylen Brown.