Recurring poster of the playoffs for several years, the Heat – Bucks are never an encounter like any other. This night, the two teams – on a series of victories – met again for the first time this season.
The opportunity for Milwaukee to achieve a fifth success in a row, while Giannis Antetokounmpo was missing due to his knee. Not a problem for Damian Lillard (37 points, 12 assists) who caused misery to Jimmy Butler (23 points, 5 assists) and Miami during most of the evening.
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard hits the ground running and bursts into the 3-point range, for 17 points at 4/5 in the first quarter. Obviously, the Bucks take control and the Heat, weighed down by their clumsy shooting and with the ball, rely on the aggressiveness of Jimmy Butler to hold on (31-20).
As the Milwaukee bench is efficient and everyone plays with desire and altruism, the gap stabilizes around ten units, despite Miami's numerous throws. Still hot, Damian Lillard then does it again while the outside address makes the difference in this half (65-51).
The break does not cool Damian Lillard and his shooters, who continue to shoot with insolence from afar. But with the help of its aggressiveness, and in particular that of Jimmy Butler, the Heat hang on. Before ending with an 11-3 which, thanks to the activity of Pelle Larsson and the skill of the Herro/Robinson pair, restarts everything (85-80).
At money time, Terry Rozier preheats and the Bucks are caught. Moment chosen by AJ Green to plant two big 3-pointers, returned by Rozier. Miami then gets a match point, missed by Tyler Herro, then an equalizer ball, missed by Rozier, and Milwaukee wins on the wire (106-103)!
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Giannis Antetokounmpo withdraws at the last moment. Unexpected absence of the “Greek Freak”, bothered by pain in his left knee. Initially announced as “probable” for this game because of his calf, he finally went “out” an hour before the interval, after having done his pre-match routine as if nothing had happened. “ This is amazing news for me too, we'll wait and see how it develops » has in any case reacted Doc Rivers, his coach. The knee is squeaking and Milwaukee is now hoping it's nothing serious…
– Damian Lillard takes responsibility. With the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, it was “Dame”’s time to shine and the All-Star point guard did not fail to do so. Author of a big double-double and his best game of the season in a victory, he notably sent an XXL first half to put his team on excellent rails. Particularly clean, fair and exemplary, the friend of the “Greek Freak” is therefore recovering after his big crisis of skill over the past three weeks (only 38%, including 20% at 3-points).
– In balance, Milwaukee moves closer to qualification. Winners of a fifth consecutive game, the Bucks find themselves with a balanced record for the first time since last month and they therefore move back into the Top 5 of the Eastern Conference. Without failing, either, to go 3-0 in this “NBA Cup” and to have a more than serious glimpse of the quarter-finals of this competition. To qualify, Doc Rivers' men will have to hope for a defeat by the Pistons in Indianapolis on Friday. Note that the Raptors are eliminated with this result from Group B.
– Miami punished at 3 points. Like Damian Lillard for three quarters or AJ Green in the “money-time”, the Bucks made the Heat suffer behind the line, finishing at 20/42 in the exercise when Erik Spoelstra's players only posted a 10/29 from afar. A significant differential of 30 points in a match which ultimately came down to one possession. Never in the lead of the evening, up to 22 points behind before picking up in the second half, the Floridians on the other hand reigned in the racket, and on the free throw line (23/30), in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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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.
