On Wednesday night, in a preseason matchup between two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum battled through an illness to help lead the Boston Celtics to a 119-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

The best record in the NBA moved up to 12-3 thanks to Jaylen Brown’s 26 points and 8 assists for the Celtics. In addition to Derrick White’s 13 points, Kristaps Porzingis contributed 21.

The Celtics never lost a game after jumping out to a 21-point lead in the first quarter. Until the Bucks attempted a comeback in the last two minutes, cutting the lead to 114-111, they enjoyed a double-digit lead. Tatum then converted three free throws in the final 21.2 seconds of the game.

With 28 points, Brook Lopez paced Milwaukee (10-5) in the loss. In contrast to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 40 or more in his previous two games, Damian Lillard finished with 27 points, five boards, and five assists.

The Bucks’ five-game winning streak came to an end, even though they had scored 130 points or more in their previous three games.

After scoring 45 points—a season-high—in last week’s overtime defeat to Charlotte, Tatum was listed as questionable to play, but he still started.

At halftime, the Celtics held a 67-53 lead thanks to their scorching 58.1% shooting, which included 12 for 23 from beyond the arc.

Midway through the second quarter, Brown made a three-pointer to give them a 54-33 lead. They had already jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and extended it to 21-8.

After Antetоkоunmpо cоmmitted a dibbling viоlatiоn, first-year cоach Adrian Griffin remоved him frоm the game. The superstar leaned оn the scоrer’s table facing the cоurt during what seemed like an argument between the twо, and he stayed there until the next time play came tо a halt.

The clubs, which are vying for first place in the Eastern Conference, spent heavily on summer signings.

As part of a historic three-team trade that traded longtime Celtics floor leader Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies in late June, the Celtics got Kristaps Porzingis.

Months after he asked to be traded from Portland, the Bucks added Lillard on September 27. In that trade, the Trail Blazers sent Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks, and four days later, the Celtics got him.

Even on Milwaukee’s opening possession, Holiday defended Lillard defensively, and Porzingis contested Giannis Antetokounmpo’s errant shot that had slammed against the backboard during the latter’s first drive to the hoop.