The Milwaukee Bucks dropped their third straight game on Monday night, losing to the Boston Celtics 119-108. Despite strong pressure in the third quarter and impressive performances from stars Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee couldn’t muster enough to beat their Eastern Conference rival.

Lillard led all scorers with 33 points on 7-for-15 shooting, including an impressive 17-for-18 from the free-throw line, with seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Antetokounmpo also had a solid night, matching Lillard’s intensity with 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes. But ultimately their efforts fell short.

Here are three key takeaways from Milwaukee’s loss to Boston:

Even when Jayson Tatum had an off night, Milwaukee struggled to keep pace. The Bucks got double figures in scoring from four of their five starters, but the bench didn’t provide the necessary support. Milwaukee’s reserves combined for just 19 points, and starting forward Taurean Prince contributed just three points in 32 minutes to finish at -7 in the plus-minus. The Bucks showed flashes of toughness but appear to lack the consistency to remain competitive against the defending champions. Monday’s performance raises questions about whether this Bucks roster, which currently sits at 1-3, has the depth and staying power to keep up with a top team like Boston.

Milwaukee put up a strong fight in the third quarter, showing resilience and taking away the lead. Despite their best efforts, Boston outscored Milwaukee 37-26 in the quarter, underscoring the challenge of maintaining the pace on the road. The Bucks clawed their way back into the game, but costly turnovers and defensive mistakes kept them from taking control when they needed it most.

One of the biggest challenges of the game for Milwaukee was matching Boston’s three-point shooting. The Celtics shot 38.3 percent from beyond the arc and knocked down 18 of 47 attempts, while the Bucks struggled to find their rhythm from distance and shot just 25.8 percent. The Celtics’ perimeter shooting was decisive and continued the trend from their season opener, where they tied the NBA record with 29 three-pointers. Milwaukee’s struggle to connect from deep, combined with Boston’s consistency from distance, tilted the game in the Celtics’ favor.

The Bucks now trail by three games and will look to break the streak Thursday when they conclude their road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies.