The Bucks beat Don Giannis’ Bulls to take first place within the NBA Playoffs
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Laurie Nickell, The Milwaukee Sentinel Journal
Milwaukee Bucks lock into the highest.
Milwaukee clinched the No. 1 seed within the Jap Convention by sponsoring the Chicago Bulls, 105-92, Wednesday night time on the Fiserv Discussion board.
This achievement deserves celebration for the Bucks (58-22), however the pleasure has dampened a bit as a result of many accidents the staff has suffered in latest video games.
sq. rating: 105 Bucks, Bulls 92
Milwaukee has two extra common season video games — versus Memphis on Friday and Toronto on Sunday — so the staff can select to relaxation key gamers earlier than the playoffs.
Bobby Portis scored 27 factors and 13 rebounds—his second straight double-double—to guide the Bucks. Brook Lopez added 26 factors, and Guru Vacation added 20 factors and 15 assists.
Khris Middleton leaves the sport with a sore knee
Khris Middleton took the Bucks’ first shot of the sport, a baseline conversion, however seemed a bit fumbling whereas operating to protection.
Middleton stayed within the sport for many of the first quarter, and missed two extra makes an attempt, however was knocked out with 3:36 remaining. He returned to the locker room, and Bucks introduced that Middleton wouldn’t return with soreness in his proper knee.
That is worrisome for Bucks followers as a result of Middleton has been hit all season. He injured his left knee within the playoffs final season and missed the beginning of the season after wrist surgical procedure. Middleton additionally missed 18 matches resulting from proper knee soreness.
Bucks battles different damage points whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo sits out
Bucks coach Mike Bodenholzer mentioned earlier than the sport that two-time NBA Most Invaluable Participant Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the sport. The Milwaukee star is listed for proper knee ache. He performed 33 minutes on Tuesday night time in Washington.
Bucks guards Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen have been out with a sprained proper ankle.
Each guards are injured in an identical method by touchdown on the opponents’ ft. Allen left Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and Budenholzer mentioned Tuesday that Allen is more likely to miss even the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Connaughton was injured within the first half towards the Wizards on Tuesday night time, however performed a number of minutes later after the damage.
Bucks transfer away within the second half
Regardless of all the damage woes, {Dollars} nonetheless went up, 20-9, within the first quarter. However the Bulls fought again within the second quarter and grabbed the lead at 42-41 when Ayo Dosonmu fell on a mid-range jumper.
Vacation responded with a Milwaukee three-pointer, however Chicago went into halftime with a 51-49 benefit.
The Bucks didn’t rating by way of the primary three minutes of the second half, and Budenholzer referred to as a timeout after the Bulls clinched a 61-51 lead after Patrick Beverley sank a three-pointer.
The Bucks struggled to take the lead at 63-61 when Vacation drove in a layup. Portis added a three-pointer on Milwaukee’s subsequent offensive possession.
Main 79-76 within the fourth quarter, Milwaukee by no means let Chicago threaten the lead the remainder of the way in which.
5 numbers
5 Helps for the vacation within the first quarter
10 Gamers who performed for the Bucks within the first half
$10,000 The quantity earned by a Bucks fan after a half-court shot was earned throughout the first half
6 Portis made three pointers for a season-high
3 Dwell video games with 20 factors or extra Lopez
Enjoying the sport is three pointers Wesley Mathews
With a number of perimeter gamers injured, veteran guard Wesley Matthews was pressed into service. He got here off the bench with nice passes, together with a giant three-pointer after a steal by Vacation that gave the Bucks a 91-82 lead with simply over seven minutes remaining.
Video from the match is of Joe Inglis getting concerned in a technical foul towards Patrick Beverley
Milwaukee’s Joe Engels and Chicago’s Patrick Beverly are two of the NBA’s main audio system. Put them on the sector collectively and sparks are certain to ignite. It occurred within the third quarter after Engels and Beverly pitted one another on a number of possessions. Engels then nailed a three-pointer and tackled Beverly, because the Bucks ahead was fouled.
Who does Pax play subsequent?
Milwaukee will play its last dwelling sport of the common season towards the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Memphis delivered considered one of its worst losses of the season, 142-101, on Dec. 15 on the FedEx Discussion board.
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