Bucks to face Celtics in semis
DETROIT: MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a playoffs careerhigh 41 points as the topseeded Milwaukee Bucks swept the Detroit Pistons in their firstround series yesterday.
The 127104 game four victory secured a comprehensive 40 series win for the Bucks and booked their passage into the conference semifinals for the first time since 2001.
Milwaukee closed the third quarter with a 173 run to take a 10point lead into the fourth, after the Pistons had led much of the way, and closed out the game with little trouble.
Detroit set an unwanted NBA record with their 14th consecutive playoff loss, a skid that began in 2008.
‘‘I think it’s important that we take a second tonight. Enjoy it,’’ Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
‘‘It’s a good night for Milwaukee. It’s a good night for the Bucks.’’
The Bucks will face fourthseeded Boston for a place in the eastern conference finals after the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers.
Boston beat Milwaukee in seven games in last year’s playoffs.
Antetokounmpo added nine rebounds, three assists and four blocks in a dominant game four performance, while Khris Middleton added 18 points and Eric Bledsoe 16 for the Bucks.
In Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz remain alive in the playoffs after a dominant fourth sealed a home victory over the Houston Rockets to avoid a series sweep.
The Jazz beat the Rockets 10791, but the Rockets still lead the bestofseven showdown 31 and can extinguish the Jazz with a win in tomorrow’s game five in Houston.
The Phoenix Suns have fired coach Igor Kokoskov after one NBA season.
A longtime NBA assistant, Kokoskov was the first Europeanborn head coach in NBA history when Phoenix hired him to replace interim coach Jay Triano in 2018.
The Suns, despite adding No 1 overall NBA draft pick Deandre Ayton, went 1963 in Kokoskov’s only season in charge, the worst in the Western Conference.
Kokoskov’s firing leaves Phoenix searching for its fifth head coach in five seasons.
AUCKLAND: Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams is set to be traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to an acclaimed American sports journalist.
As the Thunder face NBA firstround playoffs elimination to the Portland Trail Blazers, Bill Simmons, along with fellow journalist Ryen Russillo, reviewed the side’s predicament on the Bill Simmons Podcast.
Identifying Adams as being in a ‘‘bad spot’’, Simmons and Russillo believed the Kiwi big man was in a vulnerable position and could become the fall guy for the Thunder’s recent struggles.
‘‘The guy they are going to have to trade is Adams, who has been really, really disappointing — not only in this series but down the stretch too,’’ Simmons said.
‘‘This is a series where he is by far the best big man and he’s not really having an impact on it. I’ve seen nothing from him this series.
‘‘I don’t know what kind of physical shape he’s in but that’s the way they have to think. Adams is probably the fall guy coming out of this because they are not going to break up Russell Westbrook and Paul George.’’
Agreeing with Simmons, Russillo pointed out how Adams’ price tag could also be considered as Oklahoma reviews the value of its bigmoney stars.
‘‘You’re right. Adams is a big number. I think he’s in a really bad spot.’’
Adams is on a fouryear deal and is owed more than $NZ77 million for the next three seasons.
Simmons still believed Adams would be an attractive buy for another franchise, however, as the Kiwi’s leadership and teamfirst attitude is often hailed as one of the best in the NBA.