MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks, who overcame Boston's dominance at home in Game 5, will attempt to overpower the Celtics inside in Game 6.
The Celtics received a crucial setback in their already-thin frontcourt when center Robert Parish, who had 30 points and 16 rebounds Wednesday night during Boston's 129-124 loss to the Bucks, suffered a sprained ankle with about four minutes left in the game. A team spokesman said Parish would not play in tonight's game and would be on a day-to-day basis after that.
The Bucks cut Boston's lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Milwaukee had lost 10 straight games at the Boston Garden, and the Celtics had won 79 of their last 80 and 33 in a row on the fabled parquet floor.
If the Bucks win tonight, Game 7 will be played Sunday at Boston. If the Celtics win, they will host the Detroit Pistons Sunday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. Only four teams in NBA history have ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
'They are very athletic, very quick and very aggressive going to the basket,' Celtics Assistant Coach Jimmy Rodgers said. 'We have to work to keep them away from layups. They're a pretty good outside-shooting team, but they're better when they're driving to the basket.'
Boston reserve center Bill Walton has not played in the series because of a hairline fracture in his right ankle and forward Kevin McHale has been hobbled with an ankle injury. Parish's injury could prove especially costly because the smaller Bucks have been driving effectively to the basket during the series.
'We definitely have to come out of the blocks quicker and play harder from the outset,' Rodgers said. 'You expend more energy when you're behind.'
Sidney Moncrief, who missed 43 games this season with knee problems, keyed the Bucks' victory Wedneday with a career playoff-high 33 points.
'This is the best I've felt since the first two weeks of the season,' Moncrief said. 'I'm in good shape and mentally into the game. I've taken it on myself to be aggressive and look for the shot.'
'We're playing well as a team, and personally, I don't really want to talk that much about myself. I'm just happy that we won the game and hope that we can continue to win.'
The Bucks have beaten the Celtics four times in five games this season at home, including a 126-121 overtime victory in Game 3. Boston's lone victory in Milwaukee was a 138-137 double-overtime triumph in Game 4.
'We've had to dig deep before and we'll do it again,' Celtics Coach K.C. Jones said. 'It's not a matter of rest now, it's a question of going out to win a ballgame.'
