Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket past Robert Williams III of the Boston Celtics during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 1, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Getty image via AFP)
WASHINGTON – Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo produced a brace with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists to power the defending champion Bucks via Boston 101-89 in one NBA playoff series opener Sunday.
The Greek star and his teammates overpowered the NBA’s most highly regarded defensive line-up to start a best-of-season series in the second round, which continues Tuesday in Boston.
The second round of the Western Conference begins next Sunday with the Golden State Warriors in Memphis.
Antetokounmpo has scored or assisted on 55 of the 87 points Milwaukee made while he was on the field.
“I just like being aggressive,” he said. “I want to be aggressive. My teammates want me to be aggressive. I’m trying to go into paint for teammates and for myself. ”
Antetokounmpo made three returns in the first five minutes as Boston used multiple defenders to defend the Greek giants.
But from there, Antetokounmpo was able to lift the Bucks despite Milwaukee playing without striker Khris Middleton due to a sprained left knee ligament.
Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday scored a game-high 25 with 10 rebounds while Bobby Portis added 15 points and 11 rebounds as the Bucks kept their intensity and fitness high.
“We have to defeat them,” Antetokounmpo said. “We have to be here tonight, defend them as hard as possible, make them as difficult as possible, make them play one-on-one, win the ball back and go the other way.”
The Celtics hit a lousy 28 84 84 from the floor (33.3%) and made just 10 shots inside the 3-point arc while trying to set a playoff record with 50 3-pointers.
“It’s good to address this,” said Celtics coach Ime Udoka. “Not our best night. We’ve seen what they’re trying to do to accelerate our progress, and a lot of it has worked. ”
Udoka was unhappy about the Bucks scoring 27 points in 18 games for the Celtics and said Boston’s failure to score in the next round was “alarming.”
“We settled for some of the more difficult 3-pointers,” he said. “That’s what they want to do, protect the paint and get you to shoot 3 pointers and for the most part I don’t think our decision-making was great.”
Boston’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart suffered a right shoulder injury and a bruise on his thigh in the second half and struggled in the second half as Milwaukee ended the win.
The Bucks closed the first half 10-0 for a 27-24 advantage and ended the second quarter 11-3 with a 56-46 lead at halftime. Antetokounmpo had eight points in the first half ended.
Antetokounmpo had 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the first half and since then, Boston has struggled to keep up with the visitors.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 21 points while Jaylen Brown and Al Horford each added 12 points and Horford dropped 10 rebounds. Smart had 10 points and six assists.
gsg
Get the hottest sports news straight to your inbox
Continue reading
Registration INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to news, download as early as 4am and share media articles society. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints or enquiries, Contact us.
