After hanging the 2022 NBA champion on his board the day before, Detroit almost achieved the “grand slam” since the teammates of a great Cade Cunningham shook the 2021 champion, Milwaukee, and current undefeated leader of the NBA. It took a shot, Cunningham precisely. At 3-points, five seconds from the end. After counting up to 16 points behind, and without ever managing to pass, the Pistons had equalized thanks to Isaiah Stewart (105-105). There is then less than a minute left.
Everyone is standing in the room, and while we are waiting for Giannis Antetokounmpo, it is Jrue Holiday who takes responsibility with a 3-point step-back (108-105). The Pistons have 45 seconds to equalise. Cunningham is alone at the head of the racket but misses his shot. Behind, Giannis goes to the circle. He is jostled but the referees do not whistle. The lost ball is recovered by Bojan Bogdanovic. It is taken with two, and it finds Cunningham alone with 3-pointers. The ball hits the bottom of the circle. It was a shot to equalize. The rebound is for the Bucks, and Brook Lopez takes care of validating the victory with two throws, while Bogdanovic scores at the buzzer (110-108).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— The game of opposites. In between, the Pistons present themselves with only one player aged 23 and over, and it is Bojan Bogdanovic. Three players are even 21 years old and under… Opposite, all Milwaukee starters are over 27 years old.
— The Bucks’ 3-point clumsiness. Even if Holiday made the difference on a 3-point shot, the Bucks were suffering in this sector in the second half. As proof, they will miss their first 14 shots of the second half. Fortunately, they were able to count on Giannis Antetkounmpo to cut through the defense and take off (85-69). Only Holiday will register two winning shots in the second half, including the winning shot.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Brook Lopez. Not only is he the best defender of the start of the season, but the pivot of the Bucks keeps very good hands. He dominated Isaiah Stewart with his power and his good hands to accumulate 24 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. His bullying doesn’t show in the stats.
✅ Jrue Holiday. It was he who had put the Bucks on the right track with address from afar, and already 13 points after a quarter. We have known him to be more effective in defense, but in the absence of Khris Middleton, he does more in attack. It is he who registers the liberating basket.
✅ Giannis Antetokounmpo. Fifth game in a row at 30 points and more for the Player Of The Week. Clumsy from afar, he made his usual recital in the 3rd quarter with the attack of the circle systematic on transition game. A classic match for him.
✅ Cade Cunningham. He misses his last two shots, but he was very good. Much more aggressive than last year, he does not hesitate to go and rub shoulders with opposing interiors in the racket. He plays shoulder forward, and his size and technique do the rest.
⛔ Saddiq Bey. Complicated evening for the Pistons shooter, physically dominated by Giannis, and limited by faults. By his enthusiasm and his “hooray basketball”, Hamidou Diallo made up for it.
THE FOLLOWING
Milwaukee and Detroit: rebelote Wednesday evening, same room, same time!
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