Giannis shows way for Bucks
Reigning MVP helps give No. 1 East seed series lead
NBA PLAYOFFS
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, and the Bucks beat the Magic 121-107 on Saturday for a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Antetokounmpo went 12 of 14 as the top-seeded Bucks shot 56.1% from the floor. Khris Middleton had 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
“I was just trying to play hard,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously it was an early game today, we played at 1 p.m., (when) usually we’re not as focused, when the game starts, we’re kind of a little bit lazy.
“I was trying to set the tone, play hard, guard my guy, take that individual challenge with my guy, trying to be active. I was just trying to be all over the place.”
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Monday.
Game 3 included a second-quarter scuffle between Magic forward James Ennis and Bucks forward Marvin Williams, who were both ejected after exchanging shoves. The incident occurred as both players were heading back up the floor after battling for rebounding position.
Ennis had been in the starting lineup for the Magic, who already was playing without forwards Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon, guard Michael Carter-Williams and center Mo Bamba due to a variety of injuries and illnesses. Williams is part of the Bucks’ strong group of reserves.
D.J. Augustin scored 24 points for the eighth-seeded Magic. Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross added 20 points each.
“Already our margin for error against a team like the Bucks is very minimal,” Vucevic said. “They’re a great team. We have to play at a very high level to have a chance. They’re a great team. We have to play at a very high level to have a chance. Today we didn’t give ourselves a chance at all, and they really brought it.”
Heat take 3-0 lead: Jimmy Butler scored 27 points and the Heat held off a furious rally to beat the Pacers 124-115 day to take a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference series.
Goran Dragic added 24 points, Bam Adebayo had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Tyler Herro scored 20 points for the fifth-seeded Heat. They can sweep the series Monday.
Malcolm Brogdon set career playoff highs with 34 points and 14 assists for the fourth-seeded Pacers. T.J. Warren scored 23 points, and Victor Oladipo added 20.
Dragic spun through the Pacers and made a layup as time expired in the second quarter to put the Heat up 74-56.
The Heat made 11 3-pointers in the highest-scoring half in franchise playoff history.
The Pacers cut it to two points three times in the fourth quarter.
Doncic game-time decision: The Mavericks will work around the clock on Luka Doncic, hoping he can be healthy enough to play Sunday.
The 21-year-old All-Star guard and former rookie of the year sprained his left ankle in the third quarter of the seventh-seeded Mavericks’ 130-122 loss to the second-seeded Clippers on Friday night. He came back in the fourth but wasn’t moving well and eventually left for good.
The Mavericks were planning on an MRI exam for Doncic.
Coach Rick Carlisle said Doncic would likely be a game-time decision.
The Mavericks beat the Clippers in Game 2 of the Western Conferene series on Wednesday even though Doncic was saddled with foul trouble. Losing the NBA’s triple-double leader for an entire game would be much tougher.
The Clippers lead the series 2-1.