Heat Topples Giannis-less Bucks in Series-Clinching Game 5, 103-94
The Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 103-94, in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal-round playoff series on Tuesday evening in Orlando. The Heat wins the series, 4-1.
The Bucks (1-4) came into the contest knowing they'd have to overcome even longer odds than they already faced by being down 3-1, as Giannis Antetokounmpo was declared out due to his badly sprained ankle. To its credit, Milwaukee looked like anything but a defeated team early jumping out to a 28-19 lead through the first 12 minutes. That would essentially turn out to be the high point for coach Mike Budenholzer's team, however, as the Heat (4-1) went on to outscore them by a 54-37 margin during the second and third quarters. That gave Miami a solid eight-point advantage heading into the final period, and although the Bucks got as close as 91-87 with 2:05 remaining, coach Erik Spoelstra's unit hung on for the series-clinching victory.
Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic co-led the Heat with 17 points, with Butler adding 10 rebounds and six assists. Jae Crowder turned in 16 points, six boards, one assist, one steal and one block. Tyler Herro furnished 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. Bam Adebayo tallied 13 points, six boards and two assists. Kelly Olynyk delivered 12 points, six rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal.
Khris Middleton paced the Bucks with 23 points, complementing them with seven rebounds, six assists and one steal, although he did foul out late in the fourth quarter. Donte DiVincenzo supplied 17 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal. Brook Lopez generated a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double and one block. Marvin Williams and Wesley Matthews contributed 11 points apiece, with Williams also hauling in eight rebounds. Eric Bledsoe posted nine points, nine assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
The Heat now awaits the winner of the Celtics-Raptors series that plays its Game 6 installment Wednesday night.
The Bucks (1-4) came into the contest knowing they'd have to overcome even longer odds than they already faced by being down 3-1, as Giannis Antetokounmpo was declared out due to his badly sprained ankle. To its credit, Milwaukee looked like anything but a defeated team early jumping out to a 28-19 lead through the first 12 minutes. That would essentially turn out to be the high point for coach Mike Budenholzer's team, however, as the Heat (4-1) went on to outscore them by a 54-37 margin during the second and third quarters. That gave Miami a solid eight-point advantage heading into the final period, and although the Bucks got as close as 91-87 with 2:05 remaining, coach Erik Spoelstra's unit hung on for the series-clinching victory.
Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic co-led the Heat with 17 points, with Butler adding 10 rebounds and six assists. Jae Crowder turned in 16 points, six boards, one assist, one steal and one block. Tyler Herro furnished 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. Bam Adebayo tallied 13 points, six boards and two assists. Kelly Olynyk delivered 12 points, six rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal.
Khris Middleton paced the Bucks with 23 points, complementing them with seven rebounds, six assists and one steal, although he did foul out late in the fourth quarter. Donte DiVincenzo supplied 17 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal. Brook Lopez generated a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double and one block. Marvin Williams and Wesley Matthews contributed 11 points apiece, with Williams also hauling in eight rebounds. Eric Bledsoe posted nine points, nine assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
The Heat now awaits the winner of the Celtics-Raptors series that plays its Game 6 installment Wednesday night.
Lakers Defeat Rockets in Game 3, 112-102
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets, 112-102, in Game 3 of the Western Conference semi-finals in Orlando on Tuesday.
The final scoreline is unfair to Houston in this game, as it took 15 ties and 16 lead changes to determine a winner. In fact, no team led by more than six points until the final eight minutes of play. The Lakers ended up riding that 30-20 fourth quarter to their victory, thanks to a 20-5 run to start that quarter. Los Angeles ended up shooting 55 percent from the field while holding Houston to 47 percent shooting. In addition, the Lakers won the rebounding battle, 43-30, while out-blocking the Rockets, 6-1.
The Lakers (2-1) were led by LeBron James, tallying 36 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Anthony Davis accumulated 26 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Rajon Rondo led the bench with 21 points, two rebounds and nine assists. Kyle Kuzma also had 14 points off the bench, with those two combining to go 15-of-21 from the field.
The Rockets (1-2) got a near triple-double from James Harden, who collected 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Russell Westbrook finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Rober Covington accrued 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Jeff Green led the bench with 16 points.
Game 4 will be played on Thursday.
The final scoreline is unfair to Houston in this game, as it took 15 ties and 16 lead changes to determine a winner. In fact, no team led by more than six points until the final eight minutes of play. The Lakers ended up riding that 30-20 fourth quarter to their victory, thanks to a 20-5 run to start that quarter. Los Angeles ended up shooting 55 percent from the field while holding Houston to 47 percent shooting. In addition, the Lakers won the rebounding battle, 43-30, while out-blocking the Rockets, 6-1.
The Lakers (2-1) were led by LeBron James, tallying 36 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Anthony Davis accumulated 26 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Rajon Rondo led the bench with 21 points, two rebounds and nine assists. Kyle Kuzma also had 14 points off the bench, with those two combining to go 15-of-21 from the field.
The Rockets (1-2) got a near triple-double from James Harden, who collected 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Russell Westbrook finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Rober Covington accrued 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Jeff Green led the bench with 16 points.
Game 4 will be played on Thursday.