Bucks

 

Bucks make 25 3s, beat Heat 138-122 without Antetokounmpo

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brook Lopez scored 25 points, Jrue Holiday brought 24 and the recent-shooting Milwaukee Bucks withstood Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence while trouncing the Miami Heat 138-122 on Wednesday night, tying their Eastern Conference first-round playoff collection at a game apiece.

The Bucks went 25 of forty nine on three-factor attempts to tie the NBA report for three-factor baskets in a postseason recreation. Pat Connaughton, who didn’t even play in Game 1, delivered a playoff profession-high 22 points while going 6 of 10 from past the arc.

Antetokounmpo remained out for Milwaukee after leaving the Bucks’ a hundred thirty-117 Game 1 loss early inside the 2d quarter with a bruised lower lower back. The -time MVP suffered the injury on a hard fall after you have fouled overdue inside the first duration all through a pressure to the basket.

“We’ll retain to screen him and count on for him to improve and nevertheless stay constructive that quickly he’ll be prepared to play,” Bucks train Mike Budenholzer stated before the game.

The Bucks additionally had been lacking guard Wesley Matthews, who had strained his proper calf in Game 1. The Heat didn’t have Tyler Herro, who broke his proper hand in Game 1 and likely won’t return this season unless Miami reaches the NBA Finals.

For at the least one night time, the Bucks didn’t pass over Antetokounmpo at all as they capitalized on a dramatic turnaround in 3-point shooting. In Game 1, the Bucks went 11 of forty five on 3-point tries at the same time as the Heat had been 15 of 25. This time, the Bucks made extra than half their 3-factor shots in a document-tying performance.

Joe Ingles scored 17 points for the Bucks and changed into five of 6 from beyond the arc. Khris Middleton and Grayson Allen delivered 16 points apiece. Bobby Portis had 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Jimmy Butler scored 25 factors for the Heat, who host Game 3 on Saturday.

The Bucks to begin with thrived via relying on the identical method they used the final time they played a domestic postseason recreation without Antetokounmpo. They gave the ball to Lopez early and often.

Lopez, who scored simply 10 points in Game 1, had 14 by way of the stop of the primary region Wednesday. During Milwaukee’s 2021 title run, Lopez had scored a playoff profession-high 34 factors to assist the Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-112 in Game five of the East finals while Antetokounmpo was out with a hyperextended left knee.

The fulfillment of Lopez internal opened things up for every body on the fringe.

Connaughton sank a 3-pointer that capped an 11-zero run to place Milwaukee in advance sixty two-forty one with five:29 left within the second region. Butler ended that spurt by way of making two free throws, however the Bucks scored the next 13 factors – consisting of seven from Ingles – to seize a 32-factor lead.

The Bucks led through as many as 36 within the third region. The Heat outscored the Bucks 37-20 in the fourth quarter to make the final score particularly first rate. TIP-INS

TIP-INS: Duncan Robinson changed Herro in the Heat’s beginning lineup and had 14 factors. … After not playing in any respect in Game 1, Victor Oladipo had seven factors by using halftime Wednesday. He finished with 15.

The Bucks’ Jae Crowder received a flagrant 1 foul overdue within the 0.33 region for grabbing Butler’s proper leg because the Heat ahead became going up for a shot near the basket. … Milwaukee had gone eleven-eight in everyday-season video games that Antetokounmpo ignored. … Lopez received the NBA Cares Community Assist award for the month of March due to his help of kids literacy. The NBA will donate $10,000 to the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation.