Antetokounmpo scares everyone but Milwaukee wins against half Boston

The big east derby wasn’t quite what we expected early on Wednesday (02/15) as the Celtics entered the Fiserv Forum and four of their five starters were out. Still, the Boston team struggled and pushed the Bucks to the limit, but in the end it was Milwaukee who (131-125) recorded one of the most important wins of the regular season, even if it took five minutes of overtime to succeed.

The Stags improved to 40-17 (24-5 home and 16-12 away), closing in on the Celtics and tying the season streak with one remaining game in the regular season. A game that will make all the difference to home advantage in the event of a possible draw between the two teams. Giannis Antetokounmpo had another MVP appearance, in defense, offense and creation, he scared everyone when he injured his right knee just before the final and stayed on the court, but he took the match and clinched the win with a crucial steal and shots.

Shocker and All-Star that year, Jrue Holiday made shots, even one well past center, Khris Middleton continued to perform well in the seventh-man role despite missing at the end of regular time (he didn’t play like he is in overtime). minute limit) and the top of the region is becoming increasingly possible for the Bucks, who are on an 11-win streak.

The Celtics (23-7 home and 18-10 away), without Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford, fell to 41-17. Joe Mazzula kept Robert Williams in a backup role, his pitchers did a great job and nearly took the win of the year. Still, the Boston team showed just how great they are this year and how determined they are to get back on top after last year’s NBA Finals loss to the Warriors.

The Milwaukee Bucks’ next and last opponent before the NBA All-Star Weekend Break 2023 are the Chicago Bulls early Friday (February 17) at 2:30 a.m. at the legendary United Center.

Antetokounmpo’s account

In the first seven minutes he was unstoppable (9/4/2), at half time he had 14/6/4 in 19 minutes, in the two (6/7) he had no problem but he had shots , when he wasted four until the break. Brilliant creatively, he lost effectiveness in the third third, losing pace perhaps from lack of range, but still eyeing the triple-double, missing by an assist.

Poor pressure towards the end of the game, he injured his right knee and stayed on the ground but kept going and missed a layup that would have given his team a two-ball possession lead. In overtime he had two crucial shots but also the crucial steal on Grant Williams for the score of 127-125. The Celtics missed the shot to equalize or win, and Antetokounmpo took another step to join the conversation for his third MVP.

36 points
11/23 two points
1/3 three points
Recordings from 19.11
13 rebounds
9 templates
2 blocks
8 mistakes
4 fouls
+14 to +/-
at 45:55

The race

With half a roster and nothing to lose, the Celtics went into the game with a bang. Mascala scored in spurts (10 points), Derrick White orchestrated clean and the Bucks found themselves chasing early in the opening seven minutes despite Giannis’ 9/4/2. By the end of the third (27-35), the Celtics had 10 assists to an error, the hosts were 2/9 from 3 points, and those two numbers made all the difference as Milwaukee tried to play with consistency and focus.

Antetokounmpo came back early in the second game and led on an 8-0 run, 35-35 before the Celtics responded in impressive fashion again, scoring midway through the third to make it 40-47. The hosts tried, had energy, but made slight mistakes, until at the end of the first half they helped with a 13:3 part to the lead (64:63), in which the points from opposing mistakes were 2:16.

The image of the match did not change much at the beginning of the second part. White set up, Mascala scored, and the Celtics not only continued to press the Bucks but reclaimed the lead (71-76) and held their opponents at bay 76-88 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter. And yet a 3-pointer from Holliday from just past center ignited the Fiserv forum, with the Stags starting a 12-0 run to make it 99-95 early in the fourth but still not retiring.

The Celtics kept finding ways to freeze their opponents, going 103-107 only for the Bucks to reply 113-107 in a game that was slowly going insane. A thrill ensued that saw Giannis injuring his right knee, staying on the court but getting up and going on before Holiday won shots at 7.4 inches for a 116-113. Matsula called a timeout, Hauser executed a crazy three-pointer and used it for 116-116 at 3″ and in the final Middleton made a difficult shot from six yards to find an iron and send the match into overtime.

There, Derrick White searched the screens for Inglis, scoring five runs to make it 116-121, Budenholzer kept Middleton on the bench (minute limit) and Holliday and Giannis kept their team going (122-123). Allen and Brogdon shot 2/2 each to make it 124-125 before Holliday hit his EIGHTH 3-pointer and Giannis Grant Williams stole the ball, drawing a foul and making the shots to seal the win.

THE DODECALPTA: 27-35, 64-63, 95-90, 116-116 (qa), 131-125

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (Mike Budenholzer): Connaughton 5 (1 3-pointers, 8 rebounds, 3 assists), Antetokounmpo 36 (11/23 2-pointers, 1/3 3-pointers, 11/19 shots, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks ). ), Lopez 4 (0/3 3-pointers, 4/4 shots), Allen 13 (2/3 3-pointers, 5/5 shots, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Holiday 40 (8/12 3-pointers, 6/6 shots, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals), Ingles 8 (2 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, 3 assists), Middleton 16 (1 3-pointer, 11 rebounds, 4 assists), Matthews, Carter 9 ( 3/6 3-hand)

BOSTON CELTICS (Joe Mazzula): Grant Williams 12 (2 3s, 10 rebounds, 4 assists), Mascala 18 (3/10 3s, 8 rebounds), Griffin 15 (3 3s, 6 rebounds, 6 assists), Houser 15 (3 3- Points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists), White 27 (3/12 3-pointers, 12 assists, 3 steals), Pritchard 6 (1), Brogdon 26 (6/11 2-pointers, 2/6 3-pointers, 8 /9 shots, 4 rebounds, 4 assists), Cornet, Robert Williams 6 (5 rebounds)

Milwaukee Bucks team stats: 25/48 2-pointers, 18/42 3-pointers, 27/35 shots, 64 rebounds, 29 assists, 6 steals, 3 blocks, 18 turnovers, 23 fouls

Boston Celtics team stats: 29/49 2-pointers, 17/50 3-pointers, 16/20 shots, 48 ​​rebounds, 28 assists, 8 steals, 1 block, 13 turnovers, 26 fouls