Tight and controversial ending resolved with a 103-101 victory over the Celtics for the Bucks to go ahead 1-2 in the series following a tremendous job by Giannis Antetokounmpowhich he finally resolved in the company of Jrue Holiday.
Sin Khris Middletonbut with the first playoff game this season of George Hillthe Bucks beat some Celtics in Milwaukee who recovered Marcus Smart and that they appreciated the Dominican’s great match Al Horfordthe best visitor next to Jaylen Brown.
Boston recovered in the last quarter (23-34) the ground lost in the third (34-17 and a maximum advantage for Milwaukee of 14 points).
those of Udoka They culminated their provisional comeback by going ahead 99-100 with 2 free kicks by Jaylen Brown with 1:49 left, but the visiting players were not able to sustain that triumphant inertia and ended up succumbing in a finale that will raise dust.
A basket by Antetokounmpo with 44 seconds left and another by Holiday with 11.2 seconds left made the score 103-100, and a crucial play followed. Jrue Holiday fouled Marcus Smart beyond the 3-point line. The foul was indisputable, but the infraction reached that limit that was difficult to assess when calling 3 shots or simply 2 because the personal offense was committed before making the shot . The referees leaned towards the 2 free before the protests of Boston.
But the excitement did not end there. With 4.6 seconds to play, Smart scored the first free kick for 103-101 and threw the second to miss, he captured the offensive rebound without luck in his new shot, the rebound of Robert Williams III unsuccessful in the face of the hoop and two more from Al Horford, the last of which ended in a basket. But it was too late. The entry came out of time and there was no extension.
The game belonged to the Bucks and belonged to Antetokounmpo, author of 42 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, being over 50% in shooting. Next to him, as luxury lieutenant, Holiday, who finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, although he missed 19 shots from the field. They are both top-tier defensive stalwarts on their team day in and day out.
In addition, 13 points and 10 rebounds from Brook Lopez and 11 plus 8 of Pat Connaughton in George Hill’s comeback (11 scoreless minutes) and in Grayson Allen’s first career postseason start, a Grayson Allen who also didn’t score.
Milwaukee went to 99 field goals made and won despite shooting poorly from 3, both teams moved poorly in this chapter of the game, and having half as many free throws as Boston.
The Celtics, who totaled 13 blocks, suffered the horrible night of Jayson Tatumwho put up 4 caps, but was really bad on offense: 10 points following making 4 of 19 from the field without hitting a single triple.
Another drag was Smart. That yes, it is necessary to remember that it came from being low. He was 1 for 8 on the shot.
It has merit having fought to the end with the defending champions despite Tatum and Smart being at that level.
On the upside Jaylen Brown and Al Horford. The former had 27 points and 12 rebounds and the latter showed himself in a second youth with 22 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks in 39 minutes of play, with a great 4 of 7 from the triple. Too bad for him and his team that his winning basket didn’t go in on time.
Derrick White scored 14 points in 21 minutes and Robert Williams III was doing well until he had to go to the locker room in the third quarter following receiving an elbow from Bobby Portis in the head, although later he was able to return to the game.
Bucks win 1-2 in the series and the next game will face it once more in Milwaukee. So far, the tie looks like it will go a long way.
