The Clippers have to do without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, so Tyronn Lue launches PJ Tucker, starter for the first time since the end of October. And the bet pays off! The veteran sets the tone in terms of energy, and scores his first basket since November 14, the second 2-pointer of the entire season…
Los Angeles agrees to enter the Bucks' game by accelerating the tempo, another challenge succeeded by the Californian team. If Damian Lillard starts his match with an impeccable 4/4 from afar, the Clippers want more, especially on the offensive rebound.
The rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the success behind the arc of Doc Rivers' men put them back in the lead for a time. But the locals hold on, with an aggressive Ivica Zubac in scoring. This is enough to return to the locker room three steps ahead. Milwaukee is not having a great night, well shaken up by the defensive choices of the Clippers with the pivots on the “Greek Freak” and a winger on Damian Lillard. So failing to be brilliant, the Bucks showed themselves to be methodical, taking advantage of a few opposing blunders, in particular forgetting the defensive withdrawal.
Lillard and Antetokounmpo masters of the fourth quarter
Brandon Boston Jr. is trying to revive his people with a huge poster on Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. The minutes without the Greek at the start of the fourth quarter are complicated for the Bucks, unable to stop the duo Norman Powell – Bones Hyland. The return of the double MVP completely revived the visitors, authors of a 7-0 in 80 seconds to regain control.
Blocked quickly in the third act with four faults, Zubac resumes his offensive clinic. But that’s too little compared to the Lillard – Giannis “two-men show”, irresistible in money time. The former Blazers point guard is on time for “Dame Time” with some big shots of which he has the secret to close the suspense. The two All-Stars from Milwaukee combine 23 of their team's last 28 points, for a success that has long been sluggish, but valuable.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A big pass from their leaders was enough for the Bucks. Milwaukee was a tone below the Clippers in terms of intensity and aggressiveness for 40 minutes. Then Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo moved up a gear. When the two stars of the Bucks – 69 points between them – combine like this, especially on pick-and-roll, this team takes on a whole new dimension. This end of the match must be the example to follow in the game for the end of the season in Wisconsin.
– James Harden far from the mark. Without his two sidekicks George and Leonard, the Clippers leader had to take even more responsibility in attack. He finished with a double-double, but his numbers do not reflect his passivity in scoring, when his teammates put up a lot of resistance this Sunday. James Harden only scored two points at 1/5 and three lost balls (six assists all the same) after returning from the locker room…
