There’s an old basketball adage that the team with the best player usually reigns supreme come Game 7. The Boston Celtics may not have anyone who possesses the dizzying star power of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but on Saturday evening the Celtics outmaneuvered Milwaukee in an attempt to spurn conventional thought.

Antetokounmpo managed 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting, but was overshadowed by timely performances from a less heralded bunch of Celtics as Boston sent the Bucks packing with a 112-96 victory at TD Garden.

As was the case in Game 5, Celtics forward Semi Ojeleye played admirably, matching Antetokounmpo’s physicality and pestering the star with ball-pressure in the interior. Marcus Smart’s added energy off the bench, gave Boston coach Brad Stevens another body to throw at the Bucks’ 6-foot-11-inch creator. Al Horford set the tone early by emphatically swatting an Antetokounmpo attempt.

“A lot of the guys in the locker room, they’ve never been in a Game 7,’’ said Antetokounmpo. “It’s a new experience. We know now what it takes to win a Game 7. You have to come out, hit first, move the ball, take care of the ball. I personally understand that. Hopefully my teammates can understand that, too.’’

Antetokounmpo usually does his most damaging work in transition, wrecking havoc with giraffe-like strides and an aggressive mentality. Milwaukee was tied for second during the regular season in points off turnovers, scoring 18.3 a game.

The Bucks scored nary a single point on the break on Saturday night, instead watching Boston force turnovers and capitalize off them during a 20-2 first-quarter run from which Milwaukee never recovered.

Milwaukee coach Joe Prunty pointed to Boston’s sizzling 54 percent shooting percentage and 11 offensive rebounds as reasons why the Bucks were unable to generate transition looks.

“Last game we had a ton,’’ said Prunty in reference to their fast-break bagel. “That was probably a big point of emphasis for them, to get back and make sure they crowd the paint, get out to contain the ball, and get out to shooters as need be.’’

In the second quarter, after a Boston miss, Ojeleye scurried back in transition, cutting off Antetokounmpo’s path to the hoop before he could gain a full head of steam. Antetokounmpo then dished to Eric Bledsoe, who drove past his man before ramming into Ojeleye for a charge and his third foul with over seven minutes left in the half.

The Celtics also made Antetokounmpo uncomfortable in the half-court. Boston’s insistence on switching in the pick and roll presented “The Greek Freak’’ with a host of different looks, preventing him from cutting corners and getting downhill in his generally graceful fashion.

“Guys were just in my face,’’ said Antetokounmpo. “They were trying to hit me, they were trying to make me uncomfortable tonight. It’s Game 7; you have to play through that. I was just trying to make plays.’’

Antetokounmpo turned the ball over four times and was a minus-16 in more than 41 minutes of action. Though he converted all seven of his free throw attempts, the 23-year old also battled his own foul trouble, picking up his third late in the second quarter and sitting for the final four-plus minutes of the period.

Milwaukee’s remaining bunch was incapable of picking up the slack.

Guard Matthew Dellavedova notched a minus-21 in eight minutes, center Tyler Zeller a minus-13 in four, and guard Tony Snell a minus-11 in three. Even some of Antetokounmpo’s turnovers — such as the second-half baseline drive that turned into a Celtics fast break — were the function of inattentive teammates, nobody cutting towards the hoop in an attempt to provide No. 34 with an outlet when his own look failed to present itself.

A tenor of exhausted resignation present in his voice postgame, Antetokounmpo could at least sleep easy knowing he emptied the tank in his final game of the season.

“I was myself,’’ Antetokounmpo said. “I gave it everything I got. That’s what I do. Sometimes it’s going to be good, sometimes it’s going to be bad.

“It’s disappointing of course. We wanted to keep playing and go to the second round, but wasn’t able to do it. We have to work at our game and come back next year and go again.’’

Owen Pence can be reached at owen.pence@globe.com.