Boston’s 31 assists were the team’s high for the season in a game that did not require extra basketball. With Jaylen Brown rejoining Jayson Tatum atop the Celtics hierarchy, the Celtics did just that.

“You’re not going to win every game, but you can live with the ones you lose when you play the right way and you give yourself a chance,” said Tatum. Boston needs to put a bunch of these kinds of games together before anyone feels better about their status with the rest of the NBA.

MORE NEWS: Tatum Scores 42, Carries Celtics Past Bucks 117-103

But they improved to 2-0 against the Bucks with Monday night’s win, and showed a glimpse of what they could be if they can just get it all together.