Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis were a combined 24-for-30 shooting for 58 total points. The Bucks shot nearly 63 percent in the second half with Kuzma and Portis accounting for 13 of their 22 field goals. The question for Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is whether his team can quickly respond to mid-game adjustments.

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Kuzma had scored 20 or more points in just four of his previous 24 games, but it was apparent he was hot in the first half, burning the Celtics defense on an array of layups and floaters. The Celtics had no one to guard him.

“Getting to his right hand,” Mazzulla said about why Kuzma succeeded against the Celtics. “Some of that was in transition, some of that was on individual defense. Those are just habits and things you have to get better at, regardless. Understanding player tendencies, understanding the game plan and taking that away.

“I think sometimes in those situations, letting a guy get going and then it’s harder to turn everyone off in the second half and that’s kind of what happened there.”

In-game adjustments can be difficult, especially when a player such as Kuzma is exceeding expectations or defying the scouting report.

As for Portis, he delivered a handful of big games against the Celtics over the years. The most concerning aspect of his night was his five 3-point makes in six attempts. He entered the game 42 for 94 on 3-pointers (44.6 percent) but was allowed to take open attempts against a shifting defense.

“Trust me, by the time [the opposing players] get to the point where [they’re hot], the adjustment has already been made,” Mazzulla said. “We have to be better up to that point, taking away in the first half Portis goes over his left shoulder and gets a right-hand shot. That’s a tendency that we have to take away.

“Kuzma driving to his right hand. That’s a tendency we have to take away. So it starts with that and the game will tell you where you have to go from there. But they played well. You have to give them credit. We didn’t play at our best and we got another chance to do that coming up on Monday.”

…

Neemias Queta has attempted 49 free throws this season in 23 games compared with 61 in 62 appearances last year. He is playing nearly twice as many minutes this season as a starter and his scoring opportunities are soaring as he becomes more comfortable.

But he expressed disappointment Saturday at his free throw percentage which is 61.1 percent. He missed three attempts Thursday against Milwaukee and said he needs to improve that clip.

“I can get better,” he said. “It’s been a tough year for me at the free throw line. I usually feel pretty confident when I’m out there. I don’t know what’s going on, maybe it’s repetition. Maybe it’s getting my legs under it, but it’s something I need to get better at, most definitely it’s unacceptable. I can’t be shooting 61 percent. That’s too bad for me. I’m too good of a shooter to be shooting that bad.”

Queta made 75.1 percent last season.

“I’ve been shooting the same way I’ve been shooting before and career wise I feel like I’m pretty good in my free throw percentage,” Queta said. “I usually feel confident and a majority of the time I make them. I don’t know what’s going on this year. I’ve got to get right, watch film, getting repetitions. I think it’s a matter of time before I get going. It’s just a shooting slump. I’d like to see it get better.”

Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.