Terry shoulders blame for C's loss

Share

MILWAUKEEJason Terry was having a solid game for the Boston Celtics.

He was scoring, dropping dimes at Rajon Rondo-like rate and his defense was solid - mostly solid.

But he made one mistake, one that proved costly in Boston's 91-88 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Clinging to a one-point lead with less than a minute to play, Terry somehow lost sight of Brandon Jennings who made the Celtics pay with a game-winning 3-pointer.

"The play wasn't for a three," Jennings said. "The play was for me to come off a pick with Larry (Sanders). If I had an open lane, of course take it to the hole. Or we had Monta (Ellis) at the other end. But we just moved the ball around and were able to get an open shot."

Things only got worst for Terry who had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, only to see his 3-pointer hit too hard off the back of the rim and roll out.

"Being a 14-year veteran, I can't make that crucial mistake (defensively) and leave Brandon Jennings (open) in the end," Terry said. "I told everybody I'll take this one on my shoulders."

As much as Terry's defensive gaffe contributed to the loss, his play prior to that was instrumental in the Celtics having the game in their control for most of the night.

With Rajon Rondo serving the second game of his two-game suspension, Terry had his first double-double of the season with 15 points and a season-high 11 assists. His facilitating was a key factor in Boston pulling ahead by as many as 17 points.

Like most of his teammates afterward, Terry pointed out how the Celtics did for the most part, what they wanted to do.

They had a horrific second quarter in which they gave up 36 points, but that came on the heels of a first quarter in which they held the Bucks to just 11 points.

"The frustrating thing about this loss ... playoff basketball," Terry said. "Basketball is a game of mistakes."

And Terry makes no secret about not forgetting the one he made in the game's closing seconds.

"I've been through so many possessions, so many games like this one," he said. "It just hurts me, for me to be in that position and not to either make a shot or not to make a defensive play. So again, I take this one on me; no problem. But I'll bet you I'll fight back and battle back next week."

Contact Us