This Celtics – Bucks between two candidates for the title kept its promises, with a breathtaking duel until the end, between the Holiday-Brown-Tatum triplet on one side, and the Lillard-Antetokounmpo pair on the other, which recorded this evening the return of Khris Middleton.
The two teams fought a battle of rare intensity for 48 minutes, with a gap that never exceeded 8 points. Boston was able to count on the aggressive start of Jaylen Brown and a remarkable 7/16 3-pointers from Joe Mazzulla's collective. But Milwaukee responded immediately, with two 3-point baskets from Damian Lillard to set the tone and the successful entry of Khris Middleton to help Giannis Antetokounmpo stay in touch in the scoring (29-27).
The debates remained balanced the following two quarters but Milwaukee gradually took the better with an 8-0 led by 3-pointers from Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr and concluded by a still hot Damian Lillard to put the Bucks through in the lead (45-48). The Lillard-Antetokounmpo tandem was able to maintain the trend until the end of the third quarter (78-82), until the locals woke up.
Lillard dunk
In difficulty from afar after their promising first quarter (5/25 in the second and third quarters), the C's found the thread at the best time. Giannis Antetokounmpo first responded to the revolt of the locals from afar with the two 3-point arrows from Jayson Tatum, then those from Sam Hauser and Jrue Holiday (95-95).
Damian Lillard then responded without delay to Jayson Tatum by slamming a dunk to put Milwaukee back in the lead (100-101). The suspense remained total less than two minutes from the end until Al “Dirk Nowitzki” Horford's first-intention 3-pointer, just after a failed attempt by Giannis Antetokounmpo, his first of the evening in the exercise (105 -101).
Al Horford was again decisive on the following possession by countering Khris Middleton. Giannis Antetokounmpo then made a 1/2 on the line at the worst time, while Jrue Holiday killed the game at the 24-second buzzer with a perfect floater to bring the score to 107-102 and seal the success of the Celtics, on two final free throws, his first two of the match (111-105).
WHAT TO REMEMBER
Trench warfare. The meeting was rough, the two teams didn't let go of each other from start to finish, the suspense was there almost until the last seconds, and so were the superstars: we were treated to a truly beautiful duel between two big Eastern Conference teams.
Grandpa Al Horford is putting up resistance. In the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, officially injured in the leg, it was again good old Al Horford who held the house inside for Boston with 37 minutes on the clock and above all two decisive actions in the “money-time », and even the last basket of the match as a bonus.
A mixed return for Khris Middleton. The Bucks winger who had surgery on both ankles this summer made his return last night. If he stood out from the start with two baskets in a row including a 3+1, he was then much more clumsy, finishing at 2/10 in shooting. For the rest, he seemed in pretty good shape and his return is obviously very good news for Milwaukee.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
