Bucks top Nets
▶ Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 40 in epic Games 7
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 40 points and 13 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115- 111 in a thrilling Game 7 overtime on Saturday to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
The best- of- seven series has featured almost everything, including epic scoring performances, aggressive fouls, rim- rattling dunks, series- ending injuries and of course, Saturday’s winnertake- all Game 7 which turned into a seesaw affair with dozens of lead changes throughout.
The only thing missing was an overtime which Kevin Durant set the stage for in Game 7 when he drained a turnaround jump shot at the buzzer in regulation to level the score at 109 all in front of a crowd of 16,200 at Barclays Center arena in New York City. Two- time league MVP Antetokounmpo shot 15of- 24 and had five assists in 50 minutes of playing time in the head- to- head matchup with Durant.
“I want to be great,” Antetokounmpo said. “We had to give everything.”
Durant finished with 48 points, nine rebounds and six assists but missed two jumpers in the final minute of overtime that could have tied the score and possibly forced a second extra session.
The Bucks will advance to the Eastern Conference finals where they will play either the Atlanta Hawks or the Philadelphia 76ers, who face off in another Game 7 on Sunday.
“At the end of the day, I try not to get too high, not to get too low. But I almost got emotional a little bit out there because the team really tried their best,” Antetokounmpo said.
Khris Middleton tallied 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who became the first road team to win a game in the series.
Brook Lopez chipped in 19 and Jrue Holiday contributed 13 points to the win.
Antetokounmpo hit the game- tying basket and Khris Middleton delivered the game winner in overtime as the Bucks advanced to the NBA semifinals for the second time in three seasons.
Milwaukee took the lead for good, 113111, when Middleton converted on a 13foot turnaround jumper with 40 seconds to go.
Durant shot 17 of 36, draining four three- pointers, while James Harden chipped in 22 points but shot a dismal five- of- 17 in another frustrating playoff performance from the former league MVP.