Allen, Bucks hang on after Giannis fouls out to edge Knicks
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, then Grayson Allen made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 30 seconds left after his superstar teammate fouled out to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 109-103 victory over the New York Knicks.
Holiday stops Celtics' last 2 plays, Bucks take 3-2 lead
Bobby Portis made a putback off Giannis Antetokounmpoโs missed free throw with 15 seconds left, Jrue Holiday snuffed Marcus Smart on Bostonโs final two possessions and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Celtics 110-107 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 series lead.
Middleton, Antetokounmpo lead Bucks past Nuggets 125-112
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, moves to the rim as Denver Nuggets forward JaMychal Green defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER โ Khris Middleton had 29 points and a career-high 12 assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and the Milwaukee Bucks won their fifth straight game by beating the Denver Nuggets 125-112 on Monday night. Middleton's 12th assist was a thing of beauty โ a pinpoint pass to Antetokounmpo for a dunk with 1:39 remaining to give the Bucks a 120-110 lead. Bryn Forbes had 15 points for the Bucks, who earned a rare win in the Mile High City. MAIN ATTRACTIONAsked about the marquee matchup between Jokic and Antetokounmpo, Malone feigned hurt feelings.
Harden, Durant star as Nets edge Bucks 125-123
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in New York. They are 2-0 since last week's acquisition of Harden, who is averaging 33 points and 13 assists in his new uniform. Harden had 11 points at halftime following his 32-point Nets debut, when he added 14 assists and 12 rebounds. ... Durant was chosen as Eastern Conference player of the week after averaging 34 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists in Brooklynโs 3-0 week. The Bucks host the NBA champion Lakers on Thursday, two nights before the Nets open a two-game series at home against Miami.
By looks of scores, the NBA is off to a 'strange' start
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)MIAMI โ Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer offered a simple assessment of some of the scores that heโs seen in the early days of this NBA season. There have been only seven gamedays so far this season, yet the NBA has already seen 11 games where one team has led by at least 30 points. Through 54 games this season, 14 have been decided by at least 20 points โ a 26% clip. โIt does seem like thereโs been a handful more than normal,โ Budenholzer said of the number of lopsided scores so far. Brooklynโs two wins have come by 26 and 28 points; the Nets are 0-2 in games decided by five points or fewer.
Bucks set NBA record for 3's, roll past Heat 144-97
On Tuesday, they set the NBA record for 3's in a game. The Bucks made a record 29 3-pointers in their 144-97 romp past the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat on Tuesday night. The previous record for 3โs in a game was 27, set by the Houston Rockets against the Phoenix Suns on April 7, 2019. It was the biggest road win in Bucks history, topping the 39-point margin at New York on April 10, 1987. It was the first time since Feb. 13, 2017 that he played, scored less than 10 points and the Bucks won anyway.
Tatum hits big 3 to help Celtics beat Giannis, Bucks 122-121
โEver since I was a kid, I always wanted to be in that position,โ said Tatum, who scored 30 points. But thereโs so many good things happening, including Giannis going to the free-throw line with the game on the line. TIP-INSBucks: During the game, the Bucks exercised their fourth-year team option on guard Donte DiVincenzo for the 2021-22 season. Celtics: Newcomers Jeff Teague scored 19 points in 25 minutes, and Tristan Thompson had 12 points and eight rebounds. It will be Kyrie Irvingโs first regular-season game in Boston since leaving the Celtics.
Antetokounmpo says he wanted to repay Milwaukee's loyalty
So the reigning two-time MVP decided to show his loyalty to the place where heโs spent his entire NBA career. โItโs the place I want to be,โ Antetokounmpo said Wednesday, one day after signing a supermax extension with the Bucks. โI know heโs dancing right now,โ Antetokounmpo said. โItโs tough because at the end of the day, nowhere you go, nowhere you are is a guarantee to win a championship,โ Antetokounmpo said. โBeing able to give back to this city and this organization means a lot,โ Antetokounmpo said.
Historic year: Antetokounmpo wins 2nd straight NBA MVP award
He got the Defensive Player of the Year award earlier in these NBA playoffs. Jordan won both the MVP and Defensive Player in 1987-88 and Olajuwon won both in 1993-94. Antetokounmpo came close to joining the club last season by winning MVP and finishing second in the Defensive Player balloting. James won MVP and was second in Defensive Player voting in 2008-09 and 2012-13, and Shaquille OโNeal did so in 1999-2000. โI'm happy for this, I'm happy for this award," Antetokounmpo said.
Giannis out: Bucks say the MVP's ankle not ready for Game 5
The Bucks listed Antetokounmpo as inactive, doing so about 45 minutes before Tuesdays matchup started. Antetokounmpo sprained the ankle in the first quarter of Game 3, then played his usual minutes the rest of the way. He turned the same ankle the same way inward early in the second quarter of Game 4 and could not return. The Bucks lost Game 3 with Antetokounmpo, then found a way to win Game 4 in overtime even after playing the final 40 of the games 53 minutes without their leading scorer and rebounder. He had 19 points in 11 minutes in Game 4, helping Milwaukee stay in the game early.
No Giannis, no problem: Bucks top Heat in OT, force Game 5
Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo missing most of the game with a sprained right ankle, the Bucks extended their season to a Game 5 on Tuesday. The Heat gave up 12 straight points in the final period Sunday, wasting what was an eight-point lead in a closeout game. Antetokounmpo scored 19 points for the Bucks in only 11 minutes, while Brook Lopez and George Hill each had 14 for Milwaukee. TIP-INSBucks: Milwaukee missed 19 consecutive 3-pointers its last 12 of Game 3 and first seven of Game 4 before Antetokounmpo connected late in the first quarter. Heat: Miami was looking to become the first No.
Heat have Bucks in serious trouble going into Game 3
Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton (22) goes down during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Miami Heat Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Having the NBA's best record during the regular season shows the obvious potential of the Milwaukee Bucks. They are now, facing a pivotal Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the rolling Miami Heat on Friday night. We're not focused on anything after Game 3," Bucks center Brook Lopez said. We're not looking back on anything from Game 2 or Game 1.