Instant reaction following the Celtics' 98-89 triumph over the Bucks Tuesday night at TD Garden:

How the game was won: The Celtics let the Bucks hang around for much of the night and Ersan Ilyasova's layup with 4:50 remaining knotted the score at 86. It was the last field goal Milwaukee mustered, settling for three Ilyasova free throws the rest of the way. The Celtics shot better than 50 percent for the night, but struggled at the free throw line (22 of 31), allowing the Bucks to keep things close until late in the game.

Turning point: With the Celtics clinging to a five-point lead with little more than three minutes to go, Kendrick Perkins knocked the ball away from Bucks center Andrew Bogut. At the other end, Rajon Rondo fed Kevin Garnett (who had demanded the ball) for a baby hook in the lane that effectively sealed the victory.

Stat of the game: Rondo barely missed out on a triple-double, posting 11 points, 13 assists and 9 rebounds. He took over the game in the fourth quarter, making sure everything ran through him. He finished with a game-high plus-18 in the plus-minus category.

Unsung hero:Rasheed Wallace hit 5 of 8 shots overall (including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc) to finish with 13 points off the bench. The Celtics are now 12-0 when Wallace makes two or more triples.

What it means: The Celtics have won eight in a row and continue to boast the best record in the Atlantic Division at 17-4. (The Magic can match that when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday night). After this pit stop at home, Boston heads back out on the road looking to improve its NBA-best road record (9-1) on a three-game trip (Washington, Chicago and Memphis).

More to come after a visit to the locker rooms.