Bucks – Heat 120-119: Milwaukee upset and triumph in an epic derby

The Bucks and the Heat have battled four times this year’s regular season, with the series being tied 2-2 after the champions’ triumph in the early hours of Thursday (3/3) at the Fiserv Forum. John Antitokunbo’s shots kept Milwaukee alive, Chris Middleton’s three-pointers, the Greek Freak’s muddled swoop and Jro Holliday’s big basket at 1.9″ led to a major upset as the Hart won that 120-119 in apotheosis against a formidable opponent , who ended up betting big baskets, but Jimmy Butler found himself in a tragic situation.

The Bucks went up to 38-25 (22-12 home and 16-13 a), with Antetokunbo having an early problem with fouls but eventually filling his stats impressively (28 points, 8/16 two points, 1/4 threes , 9/11 shots, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) and Middleton (26 points, 4/8 threes, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) – Holiday (25 points, 5/9 two-pointers), 3 /8 three-pointers, 6/6 shots, 6 rebounds, 11 assists) to prove there who is the best big-three in the NBA.

The Heat fell to 41-22 (21-12 home and 16-14 away) but remains at the top of the Eastern Region. Jimmy Butler was on a different place (6 points, 2/14 shots, 1 assist in 35:08), in the end he fell, although Gabe Vincent’s return was weak, and threw out Tyler Hiro’s great performance (30th minute). points , 5/11 two points, 6/10 three points, 2/2 shots, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) and Vincent, Robinson, Adebayo, who did what they could but were bent over by a team that had character, metal has and never gives up .

The race

The Bucks went into the match furious, with Portis scoring two threes and Holiday-Antetokunbo one each before the three-minute period was up. They had impressive pace in attack but just in the five minutes they saw Giannis get the second foul (he kept Robinson) and go on the bench early. This development did not scare them, Portis, Holiday and Middleton were in great shape, Butler, on the other hand, had not entered the atmosphere of the game (28-19 in 8 ‘) and when Greek Freak returned to the floor, he broke in execution and creation for the 36-28 of the period one.

The first really good stretch of the heat came early in the second twelve minutes when Adebayo and Hiro ran a 10-0 series to equalize at 41-41 in 15′, with Giannis committing his third foul early, going eight minutes from the halftime on the bench. Hiro and Robinson broke through to cover Butler (2/9 shots, no assists in the first half), while Middleton kept the hosts in the game and 64-66 at halftime was the best it could be in the second part one yet see stronger fight.

Before they could break a sweat early in the second half, the Bucks were at -11 thanks to three threes from Vincent that did them major damage, but they quickly balanced the game through defense, with Allen going 77-79 and to upset the audience while Spoltra called for a time-out. John’s fifth assist led to a Matthews three-pointer to pass (80-79) but also the fourth foul from the Greek forward, who was still suffering when Middleton was silent in attack.

With John holding on to strength from his limited minutes, the Bucks knew who to rely on early in the fourth third. They did and were initially eligible, but immediately after a time-out, Hiro and Vincent scored a three-pointer to make it 99-110 in 41′ to spoil the hosts’ appetites. Holiday’s three reduced to six (107-113) but Portis missed the next stage from the corner and Adebayo kept the difference at eight.

Giannis was back to push, making critical shots at 99″ for 115-113 and hitting 12 points on the period, but a midfield Hiro, Antetokunbo still had 2/2 at 65″ for 117-115, Adebayo responded with a very difficult, pressurized two-pointer for 115-119, but an error by Heat resulted in a three-pointer from Middleton for 118-119 at 13.5″, giving the game an even more exciting character. The ball went to Butler, with John diving and winning the game at 9.9″ for Holiday to take the big stage and make the winning basket at 1.9″.

THE TWELVE MINUTES: 36-28, 64-66, 93-97, 120-119