The Milwaukee Bucks tied the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at one game apiece on Wednesday night thanks to a 138-122 victory over the Miami Heat. The Bucks were able to win despite the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo thanks to the hot shooting of Brook Lopez (25 points) and Jrue Holiday (24 points).
Bucks beat Heat
The Bucks tied an NBA playoff record with 25 made 3-pointers on 49 tries. Pat Connaughton, who did not play in Game 1, contributed 22 points and a playoff career-high 6/10 from deep.
The Bucks lost Game 1 130-117, and Antetokounmpo did not return for Milwaukee after leaving in the second quarter with a bruised lower back. The two-time MVP went down hard after taking a tumble after being fouled on a drive to the hoop toward the end of the first quarter.
Milwaukee B. head coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game, “We’ll keep watching him and anticipate for him to grow stronger and remain to be optimistic that soon he’ll be ready to play.”
Guard Wesley Matthews, who injured his right calf in Game 1, was also unavailable for the Bucks. Since Tyler Herro fractured his right hand in Game 1 and won’t be able to play again until after the NBA Finals, the Heat was without him.
For one game at least, the Bucks were able to capitalize on a huge improvement in their 3-point shooting and barely missed Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks shot just 11 of 45 on threes in the first game, while the Heat made 15 of 25. This time around, Milwaukee B. tied a record by making more than half of their 3-point attempts.
Joe Ingles, of the Milwaukee B., scored 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from deep. Grayson Allen and Khris Middleton both contributed 16 points. There were 13 points and 15 boards for Bobby Portis.
Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 25 points on Saturday as the Heat will host Game 3.
At first, the Bucks were successful by employing the same strategy they utilized in their previous home playoff game without Antetokounmpo. They started feeding Lopez the ball right away.
On Wednesday, Lopez had 14 points after the first quarter, up from his Game 1 total of 10. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined by a hyperextended left knee, In the fifth match of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, the Milwaukee B. defeated the Atlanta Hawks 123-112. Brook Lopez had a playoff career-high 34 points for the Bucks.
Lopez’s internal success paved the way for the rest of us to have a good time.
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With 5:29 left in the second quarter, Milwaukee extended its lead to 62-41 on a 3-pointer by Connaughton, capping an 11-0 run. Two free throws from Butler halted the run, but the Bucks responded with 13 straight points, seven of which came from Ingles, to take a 32-point advantage.
In the third quarter, Milwaukee B.’s lead ballooned to 36 points. The Heat was the better team in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bucks 37-20. TIP-INS
Duncan Robinson, who came in for Herro and started for the Heat, dished out 14 assists and scored 14 points. Victor Oladipo scored seven points by halftime on Wednesday after sitting out Game 1. He ended up with 15 points.
After holding Butler’s right leg as the Heat forward attempted a shot near the basket late in the third quarter, Bucks forward Jae Crowder was called for a flagrant 1 foul. Milwaukee’s record without Antetokounmpo was 11-8 in the regular season. Lopez’s efforts to promote literacy among young people earned him the NBA Cares Community Assist award for March. The Milwaukee Public Library Foundation will receive $10,000 from the NBA.
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