Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo leaps for a dunk but is fouled by Boston Celtics' Aron Baynes during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo leaps for a dunk but is fouled by Boston Celtics' Aron Baynes during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) Credit: Tom Lynn

Milwaukee — Al Horford had 27 points and nine rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 96-89 on Thursday night.

Kyrie Irving added 24 points and seven assists for Boston, which avenged a loss to Milwaukee in Boston earlier this month.

The game was played at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, formerly known as the Mecca, which served as the Bucks’ home from 1968 until the team moved into the Bradley Center in 1988.

The Bucks chose to play one game this season at the 11,000-seat arena to mark the franchise’s 50th anniversary. The team will move into a new arena next season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points for Milwaukee. Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon added 15 apiece.

Antetokounmpo, who came into the game leading the league with nearly 37 points per game, scored just 11 in the first half before matching that total in the third quarter as the Bucks built a seven-point lead midway through the period.

The Celtics grabbed control in the fourth, building a 12-point lead midway through the period before Tony Snell sank back-to-back 3-pointers, bringing the capacity crowd to its feet and forcing a timeout. The Celtics quickly built the lead back to double digits, but the Bucks briefly rallied again. Brogdon’s layup brought the Bucks within five points with just under 4 minutes remaining but Milwaukee would get no closer.

Notes: Celtics G Marcus Smart, who sat out the previous two games with a sprained left ankle, returned to action, scoring eight points in 26 minutes. … F Daniel Theis made his first career start.

Bulls 91, Hawks 86

Chicago — Lauri Markkanen scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half, including a key 3-pointer with 48.5 seconds left, and the Bulls beat Atlanta for their first win of the season.

Markkanen also grabbed 13 rebounds, leading a dominant rebounding effort for Chicago.

Grizzlies 96, Mavericks 91

Memphis, Tenn. — Marc Gasol had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Mike Conley added 22 points and Memphis held on for a victory over Dallas.

Memphis held a 20-point lead in the third quarter, but the Mavericks cut into the lead behind Wesley Matthews, who finished with 18 points and made four 3-pointers in the period.

A fourth-quarter push gave the Mavericks an 86-84 lead with 3:56 left when J.J. Barea converted three free throws, capping an 18-8 run to open the quarter.