It took the fully loaded Milwaukee Bucks 53 minutes to beat the Boston Celtics who didn’t have four starters on their roster. Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford were all sidelined for different reasons in tonight’s main matchup between the two Eastern Conference powerhouses.
Basketball fans who saw the action couldn’t believe their eyes and quickly trolled the Bucks.
“There’s no way Giannis is getting MVP chants for beating the Maine Celtics in overtime.”
Some even predict what a postseason series would look like if they find themselves in the playoffs again:
“The series does not go beyond four if the C are healthy”
Giannis Antetokounmpo received a standing ovation and MVP chants from his hometown crowd after a steal and free throws that sealed the game. He stripped the Celtics Grant Williams of the ball with the Milwaukee Bucks winning 127-125.
Antetokounmpo, who has struggled with his free throws all season, made both shots to ice the game. However, most basketball fans were not very happy or forgiving of his and the Bucks’ performance.
Last season, Milwaukee dragged Boston to a win-or-go-home Game 7 even without Khris Middleton for the entire series. Tonight, they had Middleton and Jrue Holiday, who were the heroes of the game, and still couldn’t beat the Celtics until the final seconds of overtime.
Marcus Smart has been out for several weeks with a sprained ankle. Newly named NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown fractured his face and is expected to return only after February 24. Jayson Tatum, who has been the Milwaukee Bucks’ biggest headache, is dealing with a non-Covid related illness. Al Horford is resting as usual.
Without them, the Boston role players became great. Blake Griffin, Grant Williams, Sam Hauser, Mike Muscala and Malcolm Brogdon combined for 86 points on 13-of-34 shooting from beyond the arc.
Hauser forced overtime with a big 3-pointer over Khris Middleton. Brogdon, Griffin, Williams and Muscala held off the Milwaukee Bucks with timely shooting.
Derrick White is only the fourth player in Celtics history to record at least 23 points and 10 assists in 3 consecutive games. The Others: Larry Bird Bob Cousy John Havlicek https://t.co/hFbi6rCvTO
And then there was reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Derrick White, who finished with 27 points, 12 assists and three steals.
Jrue Holiday saved the Milwaukee Bucks from an embarrassing defeat
The decimated Boston Celtics lineup looked like it was going to be destroyed by Giannis Antetokounmpo. He finished the game with 36 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, but also had eight turnovers. Antetokounmpo made some crucial shots, which kept the Milwaukee Bucks in the game into overtime before pulling away for the win.
The night, however, belonged to shipowner Jrue Holiday. His steal of White with 1:35 left in the overtime led to a dunk on the other end to cut the lead to 123-122. Holiday also made a game-changing three-pointer with 25.2 seconds remaining in the game to give the Bucks a 125-124 lead.
Jrue Holiday finished the night with 40 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals. He was partly to blame for Derrick White’s big night, but he stepped up when the Bucks needed him most.