Dairyland Express
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks blow past Heat to take 3-0 lead

By Steven Schauer

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 24: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks in the third quarter against the Miami Heat during Game Two of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat at Fiserv Forum on May 24, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 24: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks in the third quarter against the Miami Heat during Game Two of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat at Fiserv Forum on May 24, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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Rinse and repeat for the Milwaukee Bucks. Another game in the series against the Miami Heat and another blowout victory. This time a 113-84 thumping in Miami.

The Milwaukee Bucks now owns a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round matchup and is a Saturday win away from earning the sweep.

It has surely looked easy against the reigning Eastern Conference champions in games 2 and 3.

The crowd was electric with 17,000 fans, but they were silenced early with the Bucks holding the Heat to just 14 points in the opening quarter on 26.1 percent shooting. Miami had just eight points in the first nine minutes of the game. It wasn’t the fireworks performance out the gates like in game 2, but a grind-it-out, wear-them-down type effort across the 48 minutes by Milwaukee.

Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 22 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 17 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. Jrue Holiday added 19 points and 12 assists to lead the offense.

Milwaukee has outrebounded Miami by an average of 17 in the three games of the series. On Thursday night it ended with a 55-42 rebounding advantage.

Antetokounmpo would explain in his post-game press conference that the Bucks need to play together in order to earn the sweep.

In the three games of the series, Milwaukee has now won by 2, 34 and 29 points. As well, they led by 32 points in the game 3 victory.

Ernie Johnson made a point in the TNT post-game analysis of the series that teams leading 3-0 in the playoffs are 140-0 all time.

Head coach Mike Budenholzer would say in his post-game press conference that the toughness of the Milwaukee Bucks and coming up with timely plays when needed has been crucial.

An eye-popping stat was given by Tim Renolds from the Associated Press, noting that Milwaukee has led for 93 minutes and 49 seconds out of a possible 96 minutes in the series so far.

One negative in the victory was the loss of Donte DiVincenzo who injured a tendon in his left foot during the second quarter.

Milwaukee will look to walk off the AmericanAirlines Arena floor on Saturday with a series sweep and turn its attention towards the winner of the Brooklyn versus Boston series.

It will likely be Brooklyn who wins that series, as they lead 2-0 and won game 2, 130-108. This season Milwaukee was 2-1 against Brooklyn in the three games during the regular season, including consecutive victories on May 2 (117-114) and May 4 (124.118).

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