USA TODAY International Edition
Bucks up 3- 1 after Windy City rout
CHICAGO – The Milwaukee Bucks just needed a change of scenery to rediscover themselves.
After two lackluster home games to start the first- round series, the Bucks had another dominating performance at the United Center with a 119- 95 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
Milwaukee took a 3- 1 lead in the bestof- seven matchup and can finish off Chicago on Wednesday at Fiserv Forum.
“I think ( the loss in Game 2) sparked something,” Bucks guard Jrue Holiday said. “It lit a fire. I don’t think we took that game for granted. But it definitely felt like we could have won that game. Chicago’s a good team, but we had to turn up the intensity and we felt like we did the last two games.”
Even with Khris Middleton sidelined for at least two weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament, the Bucks looked again like a team that can get back to the NBA Finals. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who only needed to score 18 points in the Bucks’ 111- 81 victory in Game 3 on Friday, was back to stuffing the stat sheet with 32 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists. Grayson Allen continued to step up his scoring with Middleton out, adding 27 points on just 12 field- goal attempts.
Typical for afternoon tip- offs, both teams took time to find their rhythms. But Allen stayed hot from his 22- point eruption in Game 3. He finished shooting 6- for- 7 on 3- pointers and made three steals.
“Was in the right spots a lot,” Allen said. “Hit a couple early. Couple from Giannis’ kick- outs, one in the corner from Jrue ( Holiday’s) kick- out. Was in some situations in the pick- and- roll and could get downhill and attack the rim. Was just in the right spots, a lot of good spots, and really got in rhythm.”
Bulls star Zach LaVine, who struggled with his touch over the first two games, caught fire and scored 12 points in the first quarter. He finished with 24 points and 13 assists, but Milwaukee’s defense limited Chicago’s damage to inside the arc with the Bulls hitting just 9for- 36 ( 25%) on 3- pointers.
“For sure from Game 3 to Game 4, it’s just some good habits,” Antetokounmpo said. “Just defending as a team. People making it as tough as possible, taking that individual pride. Keeping their guys in front of them. Having that mentality to take it a possession at a time and know that each basket counts.
“It’s a very good habit. We did it in Game 3, we did it in Game 4 and hopefully we can do it in Game 5. Hopefully we can carry this over. This is how we have to play. Our defense got to always be on.”
Holiday added 27 points and seven assists and Milwaukee’s offense is playing with much better rhythm after 22 turnovers in Game 1.
“I think just not being indecisive,” Holiday said. “Knowing what you want to do when you get into the paint. If we’re going to have a turnover, make them take it out on the side, not a transition turnover. I think we did a really good job, we weren’t lax with the ball. Very, very strong and did well with the double team.”
Said Antetokounmpo: “Obviously when you face a little bit of adversity it brings the best out of you,” “But now we don’t necessarily have to lose a game. At the end of the day, when things don’t go well either you fold or you quit or you find another way to affect the game and come out on top. Come out stronger.
“I think that’s what our team did. But the job’s not done yet. We have one more game on Wednesday at home. Hopefully we can do our job.”
Nuggets avoid sweep
The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic may or may not win his second consecutive MVP award. He is magnificent either way. Jokic had 37 points, eight rebounds and six assists and helped the Nuggets avoid a sweep with a 126- 121 victory Sunday over the Golden State Warriors.
Will Barton hit a huge corner 3- pointer with 7.9 seconds left, putting the Nuggets ahead 126- 121.
Jokic had help, too: Monte Morris scored 24 points, including the goahead floater, Aaron Gordon had 21 points, six rebounds and four assists; and rookie Bones Hyland had 15 points off the bench.
Golden State’s Steph Curry had a strange game even with 33 points. He was 10- for- 23 from the field, 3- for- 11 on 3- pointers, missed four free throws in a game for the first time in his NBA career but had 15 points in the fourth quarter when the Warriors needed his offense.
Klay Thompson had 32 points on 12for- 20 shooting, including 7- for- 11 on 3s.
The Warriors shot the ball well at 50% from the field, 35.3% on 3s and 71.9% from the foul line – just not as good as Denver’s 56.2%, 48.4%, 80.6%.
– USA TODAY’s Jeff Zillgitt