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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 marquee matchup between the two Eastern Conference powerhouses.
Basketball fans who saw the action couldn’t believe what they were seeing and promptly trolled the Bucks.
“There’s no way Giannis is getting MVP chants for beating the Maine Celtics in OT”
Some are even predicting what a postseason series could look like if they meet again in the playoffs:
“Series isn’t going past four if the C’s are healthy”
Giannis Antetokounmpo received a standing ovation and MVP chants from the hometown crowd after a game-sealing steal and free throws. He took the ball away from Celtics Grant Williams with the Milwaukee Bucks leading 127-125.
Antetokounmpo, who has struggled with his free throws all season long, made both shots to ice the game. Most basketball fans, though, weren’t too happy or forgiving about 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 put the Celtics away until the last seconds of overtime.
Marcus Smart has been out for several weeks already due to a sprained ankle. Newly-named NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown fractured his face and is expected to be back only after Feb. 24. Jayson Tatum, who has been the Milwaukee Bucks’ biggest headache, is dealing with a non-Covid related illness. Al Horford is getting his customary rest.
Without them, Boston’s role players came up big. Blake Griffin, Grant Williams, Sam Hauser, Mike Muscala, and Malcolm Brogdon combined for 86 points on 13-34 shooting from behind the arc.
Hauser forced overtime with a big-time three over Khris Middleton. Brogdon, Griffin, Williams, and Muscala kept the Milwaukee Bucks at bay with timely shots.
And then there was the 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 Boston Celtics’ decimated lineup looked like they were 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 in overtime before pulling away for the win.
The night, however, belonged to point guard Jrue Holiday. His steal on White with 1:35 left in the extra period led to a dunk on the other end to cut the lead to 123-122. Holiday also drained a game-turning three-point shot with 25.2 seconds left in the game to give the Bucks a 125-124 advantage.
Jrue Holiday finished the night with 40 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. He was partly at fault for Derrick White’s big night, but he stepped up when the Bucks needed him the most.
