After a massive win over the East’s top team on Sunday, the Brooklyn Nets returned to Milwaukee on Tuesday night. The question is, how would they do with a repeat matchup of what could be a look at the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021? Take a look now in this edition of the Bucks Review!
First Quarter
Another prime-time matchup, this time on TNT, this game started off slow but picked up rather quickly. After the game became 4-2 2:29 into the game, the teams began to trade triples, and I mean A LOT of triples. Overall, both teams would hit five three for the period, Brooklyn on 11 attempts while the Bucks had 13. Scoring from downtown was not the only thing that stood out, though, as Giannis had himself a strong start, scoring 11 of Milwaukee’s first 22 points. On the Brooklyn side of things, Durant (10 points) and Kyrie (9 points) shined as things remained close after one quarter, 34-33 Milwaukee.
MIL
46.4 FG%, 8/16 2P, 5/13 3P
BKN
52.0 FG%, 8/15 2P, 5/11 3P
Second Quarter
The Greek Freak continued his strong start early in the second quarter, draining a mid-range and three-point in the first couple minutes of the frame. Some sloppy play, though, along with Giannis foul trouble, helped Brooklyn climb to a 48-44 lead before a Milwaukee timeout. Then, someone told Bryn Forbes and Khris Middleton that it was time for the mission to commence. The former Spur was on another level for the next few minutes, scoring eight of the team’s next 14. Middleton added five of the other six, the Bucks went on a quick run, and all of a sudden they were up 64-55. Trading of buckets in the last minute led to the halftime margin, Bucks up 66-58
Halftime Notables
MIL
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 21p/5r/1a, 8/14 FG, 3/5 3P
Jrue Holiday: 15p/4r/3a/1b, 5/7 FG, 2/3 3P
Bryn Forbes: 11p/1a, 4/7 FG, 3/5 3P
BKN
Kevin Durant: 17p/4r/3a/2b, 6/9 FG, 1/2 3P
Kyrie Irving: 14p/3r/5a/1s/1b, 6/12 FG, 2/4 3P
Third Quarter
Things started off hot out of the break for the Brooklyn Nets, with a quick five point swing by their two active superstars cutting it to three. Giannis, though, would not be denied yet again, going on a five-point run of his own, including his fourth three of the night. The teams would continue to go back and forth for the next few minutes before a Joe Harris three cut the Bucks lead to seven and forced a timeout.
To put things bluntly, the middle of the quarter was not pretty for Milwaukee. The Bucks would only score three points in nearly a four-minute span. This stretch helped the Nets get things back to three points with just over four minutes left in the period. However, the Bucks responded well, with Giannis putting up five straight to get to the 30 point mark again. The star, though, was Kyrie Irving, who put up 17 points in the third quarter alone to give him 31 on the night. A hectic sequence to end the frame brought about a lead for Brooklyn with 12 minutes to play, 94-92.
Fourth Quarter
Another pair of triples, by Jeff Green and Blake Griffin, continued the strong run that Brooklyn found themselves on early in the fourth. Milwaukee, though, would respond again, going on a 7-0 run to take a 104-103 lead with less than nine minutes left. A hectic next few minutes followed, as Jrue Holiday took over with a few key assists, including on a Giannis and one to put the Bucks back up nine. The whole team really seemed to up their passing game in this quarter, as Giannis made it four assists on the game.as well. Brooklyn simply wouldn’t go away, with a Kyrie corner three keeping things at eight late in the game. At the end of the day, while the Bucks may have tried to keep things especially close at the end, they came out with a big 124-118 W.
Key Players
MIL
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 36p/12r/4a/1s, 11/30 FG, 4/12 3P, 10/12 FT
Khris Middleton: 23p/7r/4a/2s, 9/18 FG, 1/3 3P
Jrue Holiday: 23p/8r/10a/1s/1s, 8/13 FG, 4/6 3P
BKN
Kyrie Irving: 38p/3r/5a/3s/2b, 14/25 FG, 6/12 3P
Kevin Durant: 32p/9r/6a/1s/2b, 11/22 FG, 4/8 3P
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