Dominant Giannis’ tip-in lifts Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo enhanced his reputation as one of the best players in the NBA with the game-winning play for the Milwaukee Bucks as they levelled their firstround NBA Eastern Conference playoff series against the Boston Celtics at 2-2.
Also yesterday, the San Antonio Spurs, still without head coach Gregg Popovich after the recent death of his wife Erin, defeated the defending champion Golden State Warriors for the first time in their Western Conference series to head back to Oakland with a 3-1 deficit, while the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 104-100 and the Washington Wizards beat the Toronto Raptors 106-98. Both those playoffs are tied 2-2.
Antetokounmpo scored 27 points, including tipping in the go-ahead basket with five seconds left, as the Bucks beat the Celtics 104-102 at home to level their series at 2-2. Game five is tomorrow in Boston.
Boston’s Marcus Morris missed a 14-footer at the buzzer with Khris Middleton’s hand in his face to seal a nailbiting win for the Bucks.
Seconds earlier, the 2.10m Antetokounmpo jumped and reached up with his left arm around Boston’s Jayson Tatum to put back Malcolm Brogdon’s missed layup for the game-winner.
Antetokounmpo finished with a typically busy statline of 27 points on 12-of-20 shooting to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Middleton added 23 points for the Bucks, while Jabari Parker chipped in with 16 off the bench.
Aussies Thon Maker (8 points, 5 blocks) and Matthew Dellavedova (4 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists) also produced handy efforts for the Bucks off the pine.
Jaylen Brown had 34 points for the Celtics, while Tatum added 21. Tatum’s 18-footer with 52 seconds left gave the Celtics a brief 100-99 lead.
He just couldn’t hold off Antetokounmpo on the other end for the decisive tip-in.
The disappointing end for the Celtics overshadowed their spirited rally from a 65-45 deficit with 7:37 left in the third quarter.
Meanwhile in San Antonio, the Spurs got 22 points and 10 rebounds from star big man Lamarcus Aldridge as they defeated the Warriors 103-90 to stave off the sweep and send the series back to the Bay area. Game five is tomorrow.
The Spurs led by as many as 10 in the first quarter and 17 in the second. It was their first victory in a series after falling behind 3-0 during the Popovich era in San Antonio.
The 40-year-old Manu Ginobili added 16 points and five assists for the victors, while Rudy Gay chipped in with 14 points and seven boards, Dejounte Murray 12 points and Kyle Anderson 10.
Kevin Durant paced the Warriors with 34 points and 13 rebounds, while Draymond Green snaffled a game-high 18 rebounds to go with nine points and nine dimes.
Golden State, who had won 19 of their previous 20 playoff games, outrebounded the Spurs 61-34 but undid much of that by shooting just 38 percent from the field.
The Spurs made 15 of their 28 three-point attempts, while the Warriors were just seven of 28 from deep.
Le Bron James finished the Cavaliers’ game with 32 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and another crowning achievement – his 100th career playoff game with 30 or more points, second all-time to Michael Jordan.
He and Kyle Korver combined for all of Cleveland’s points in a late 10-2 run, but James drew boos from the crowd after flipping the ball up the court to run out the clock.
‘‘You don’t ever want to go down 3-1 against anybody, no matter if it’s the first round or if you’re fortunate enough to get all the way to the finals,’’ James said. ‘‘It’s just too difficult.’’
Bradley Beal scored 31 points and John Wall 27 as the Wizards were impressive in closing out their game against the Raptors, who were outscored 66-47 in the second half.
–with AP