Bucks Come Up Clutch For First Win
By Dan Bruno
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets, 86-83, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals at Fiserv Forum on Thursday evening.
The Bucks got out to a great start in the contest with a, 30-11, lead after one quarter. However, they fell apart in the second as the Nets dominated the quarter, outscoring the hosts, 31-15, to make it a three-point game by halftime. The contest slowed down in the third, where the Bucks held a small lead for most of the quarter and took a two-point lead into the final frame. The Nets grabbed a one-point lead early in the fourth, but the Bucks reclaimed the advantage before the game endured a three-minute scoring drought. Action picked up again in crunch time, as Kevin Durant put the Nets up by three, with 1:23 left on the clock. The Bucks responded with a couple of clutch baskets and good defense to close out the key home win and make it a, 2-1, series heading into Game 4, on Sunday.
Khris Middleton came up huge with 35 points and 15 rebounds, in 43 minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only other player to score in double digits for the Bucks, with 33 points, 14 rebounds and two assists, while Jrue Holiday added nine points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal. The Bucks shot 37 percent from the field, including 6-of-31 from deep.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant led the way for the Nets with 30 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block, in 42 minutes. Kyrie Irving followed up with 22 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Bruce Brown totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. The Nets shot 36 percent from the field, including 8-of-32 from long range.
The Bucks got out to a great start in the contest with a, 30-11, lead after one quarter. However, they fell apart in the second as the Nets dominated the quarter, outscoring the hosts, 31-15, to make it a three-point game by halftime. The contest slowed down in the third, where the Bucks held a small lead for most of the quarter and took a two-point lead into the final frame. The Nets grabbed a one-point lead early in the fourth, but the Bucks reclaimed the advantage before the game endured a three-minute scoring drought. Action picked up again in crunch time, as Kevin Durant put the Nets up by three, with 1:23 left on the clock. The Bucks responded with a couple of clutch baskets and good defense to close out the key home win and make it a, 2-1, series heading into Game 4, on Sunday.
Khris Middleton came up huge with 35 points and 15 rebounds, in 43 minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only other player to score in double digits for the Bucks, with 33 points, 14 rebounds and two assists, while Jrue Holiday added nine points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal. The Bucks shot 37 percent from the field, including 6-of-31 from deep.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant led the way for the Nets with 30 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block, in 42 minutes. Kyrie Irving followed up with 22 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Bruce Brown totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. The Nets shot 36 percent from the field, including 8-of-32 from long range.
Jazz Topples Clippers in Game 2, 117-111
The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 117-111, at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Friday night in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal round series. The Jazz leads the series, 2-0.
The Jazz (2-0) had dug themselves a hole in the first half of Game 1, and they naturally appeared intent on avoiding the same fate in Game 2. Utah looked like a much more focused team Thursday while posting 66 points through the first two quarters on their way to a 13-point halftime lead. However, much as their hosts had done to them in Game 1 on Tuesday, the Clippers (0-2) began to turn the game around in the third quarter by erasing six points from their deficit, and they then opened the final period on a 15-6 run over the first 5:23 to actually take a two-point lead. However, the Jazz would finish the game on a 19-10 run from that point, with Los Angeles missing multiple three-point attempts that would have been instrumental scores in a game decided by just six points.
Reggie Jackson led the Clippers with 29 points, adding three rebounds and two assists. Paul George generated a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included six assists. Kawhi Leonard turned in 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Marcus Morris mustered eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block.
Donovan Mitchell paced the Jazz with 37 points, complementing them with four assists and three rebounds. Jordan Clarkson poured in 24 points. Joe Ingles furnished 19 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal. Bojan Bogdanovic delivered 16 points, four boards, one assist and one steal. Rudy Gobert posted a 13-point, 20-rebound double-double that also included three blocks and two steals.
The series now shifts to Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the two teams will convene for Game 3 on Saturday night.
The Jazz (2-0) had dug themselves a hole in the first half of Game 1, and they naturally appeared intent on avoiding the same fate in Game 2. Utah looked like a much more focused team Thursday while posting 66 points through the first two quarters on their way to a 13-point halftime lead. However, much as their hosts had done to them in Game 1 on Tuesday, the Clippers (0-2) began to turn the game around in the third quarter by erasing six points from their deficit, and they then opened the final period on a 15-6 run over the first 5:23 to actually take a two-point lead. However, the Jazz would finish the game on a 19-10 run from that point, with Los Angeles missing multiple three-point attempts that would have been instrumental scores in a game decided by just six points.
Reggie Jackson led the Clippers with 29 points, adding three rebounds and two assists. Paul George generated a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included six assists. Kawhi Leonard turned in 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Marcus Morris mustered eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block.
Donovan Mitchell paced the Jazz with 37 points, complementing them with four assists and three rebounds. Jordan Clarkson poured in 24 points. Joe Ingles furnished 19 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal. Bojan Bogdanovic delivered 16 points, four boards, one assist and one steal. Rudy Gobert posted a 13-point, 20-rebound double-double that also included three blocks and two steals.
The series now shifts to Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the two teams will convene for Game 3 on Saturday night.