The defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks get a huge 101-89 win inside TD Garden over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Second Round.
At various times, the national media has tried to anoint Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum as the NBA’s best player. When are they going to acknowledge that Giannis Antetokounmpo is BY FAR the best player in the game? The Greek Freak just dominated a very good team and he didn’t even play particularly well.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with a triple-double, 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists with two blocks, but was 9-of-25 from the field.
Giannis is now one of six players to have multiple 20/12/12 playoff games. If you don’t think he’s the best player in the world, we’re not watching the same sport.
Jrue Holiday finished with 25 points on 8-of-20 from the field, nine rebounds and five assists.
Milwaukee made 37-of-90 (41.1%) from the field, 12-of-34 (35.3%) from 3-point range and 15-of-21 (71.4%) at the free throw line. The Bucks finished with 22 assists and 14 turnovers.
Milwaukee came out of the gates with a horrific start offensively with seven turnovers in the first seven minutes of the game and then cleaned it up and had seven the rest of the way.
After making 10 3-pointers in the first half, the Bucks made just two of them in the second half.
I felt the Bucks played really good defense today, which will be huge in this series. Boston had some good looks that they missed, but Milwaukee largely made it tough on the Celtics.
Boston made just 28-of-84 (33.3%) from the field, 18-of-50 (36.0%) from 3-point range and 15-of-20 (75.0%) at the free throw line while committing 18 turnovers.
I love how the national media gives zero respect to the Bucks. After a Boston turnover, Doris Burke says “Celtics just haven’t settled in.” Shortly after, a Milwaukee turnover and Doris Burke says “This Celtics defense is so connected.”
Milwaukee today got:
- 29 good minutes out of Wesley Matthews, who was a Free Agent in December.
- 29 good minutes out of Grayson Allen, who Milwaukee got for two second-round picks.
- 22 good minutes out of Jevon Carter, who got waived by Brooklyn mid-season.
General Manager’s who can win on the margins are so, so valuable.
It’s just one game, but it was a huge start to the series for Milwaukee. It was imperative that they at minimum split the first two games at TD Garden, they just couldn’t head back to Fiserv Forum down 0-2.
Up Next:
Game 2 at TD Garden will be on Tuesday, May 3rd. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM (Central Time) and will be nationally televised on TNT.
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Nick Obot 