After rolling over the Warriors and scoring 91 points in a single half, the Nets moved on to reveal the Bucks with an eighth straight win in sight. With seriousness and application, Jacque Vaughn’s troops pulled it off, mastering the match to the point of avoiding a tense endgame.
The Nets started their match under a rain of 3-pointers scored by Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Royce O’Neale before seeing Nic Claxton fly away to smash the circle again (20-15). As a boss, KD chained three baskets then found TJ Warren for a new missile which was already starting to falter Milwaukee as the end of the first act approached (36-27).
The Bucks attempted a first comeback but came up against the aggressiveness of TJ Warren and the efficiency of Nic Claxton on the other side of the floor. A real “anti-Giannis” weapon, Nic Claxton notably chained a series of four baskets to create a new gap as the break approached (56-44).
At +13 at half-time (60-47), the locals tried to kill the match as soon as they returned from the locker room by moving to +20 (74-54), with an always precious Nic Claxton and the mastery of Kevin Durant . Milwaukee did not want to abdicate right away, passing an 11-2 to get back in the game thanks to the Holiday-Portis duo (79-65). So after a basket scored with forceps by Giannis Antetokounmpo and a 3-pointer from Pat Connaughton, the Bucks were back at -10 with 12 minutes to play (85-75).
The Nets then released their lethal weapon, Kyrie Irving, to end the suspense. The point guard walked on the last quarter with impressive ease, with 8 points and 2 assists to begin to calm the opposing hopes.
It was then on a 2 + 1 after being played by Brook Lopez then a 3-point in transition that “Uncle Drew” definitively finished Milwaukee (113-92). Brooklyn was then able to manage smoothly until the final victory, 118-100. Definitely one more reference match in the Nets recovery operation…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Another accomplishment for the Nets. While the Celtics, Bucks and Cavaliers cough, the Nets continue to roll at breakneck speed to catch up on the Top 3. The game of the night was an important step in this sense, and in the result as in content, Kevin Durant’s teammates were up to snuff. Brooklyn is no longer a team of two players but can rely on a real collective to which we can still add Patty Mills and Joe Harris. Scary !
– An attack that fueled. Everyone scored except Cam Thomas, no player with more than 25 points, 30 assists for only 10 lost balls, so many figures that lean in favor of the Nets who were also able to count on a good outside address (14/32 ). The Bucks couldn’t say the same…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Kyrie Irving. If KD was still impeccable, in particular to allow his team to widen the gap over the first three quarters, what about the breathtaking finish of Kyrie Irving? Author of 14 of his 18 points and 2 assists in the last act, the leader put his team on his shoulders to guide it to victory while the Bucks finally showed themselves threatening. If we didn’t have any suspense, it’s his fault!
✅ Nic Claxton. The X factor of this match, for having stuck Giannis Antetokounmpo in defense and having contributed to destabilizing the Greek on this side of the field. But he also stood out for his efficiency in attack, with in particular a nice 6/6 in the first half. A specialist in verticality, he also shone in this match with slightly more subtle moves. A very good game on his part since he also distilled 5 assists and stole three balls to go with his 19 points and 8 rebounds.
✅ Ben Simmons. He was the aggressive player the Nets want to see, with easy baskets, pace, good play reads that resulted in 8 assists but also commitment on defense with 11 rebounds and 3 steals. Very good Ben Simmons in the role that is his now.
✅⛔️ Giannis Antetokounmpo. Another Giannis Antetokounmpo was expected for a match of this importance and in the absence of Khris Middleton. But the challenge and the lack of his number 1 lieutenant finally isolated him a little. Well held in defense, he finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists but also 7 lost balls and an impact far too light overall after the break.
⛔️ Jevon Carter. Overall, all of the Bucks’ outside shooters failed, but the back was the most obvious illustration with his 2/10 shooting including 0/6 from afar. 0/4 also for Joe Ingles…
THE FOLLOWING
Brooklyn (21-12): the Nets will embark on a three-game road trip that kicks off in Cleveland this Monday (1:00 a.m.).
Milwaukee (22-10): new shock on the horizon with a tense “Christmas Game” in Boston (11:00 p.m.).
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