Dairyland Express
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks even series, Giannis makes highlight reel plays

By Steven Schauer

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 13: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half of Game Four of the Eastern Conference second round playoff series at the Fiserv Forum on June 13, 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 13: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half of Game Four of the Eastern Conference second round playoff series at the Fiserv Forum on June 13, 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

An emphatic rejection followed by a thunderous alley-oop dunk put an exclamation point on a Milwaukee Bucks 107-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

The victory gave the Milwaukee Bucks back-to-back wins and evened the Eastern Conference semifinal series at 2-2. Game 5 is Monday in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn’s Reggie Perry went up for a 7-foot right-handed hook shot, but Giannis Antetokounmpo had another idea. The two-time MVP rejected the shot back to midcourt where Jrue Holiday picked up the loose ball.

Antetokounmpo sprinted the length of the court to receive a pinpoint alley-oop pass from Holiday to throw down the one-handed dunk and send the 16,000-plus inside the Fiserv Forum into a frenzy.

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1404192454178267136?s=20

It was the perfect play to give Milwaukee all the momentum it needs heading into game 5. The Nets were again without star James Harden, who missed his third-straight game with a hamstring injury, and Kyrie Irving also went down with six minutes to play in the second quarter after spraining his ankle.

After Irving scored on a driving layup, he came down and landed on the right foot of Antetokounmpo and immediately rolled over in pain. From the point of his injury until the Giannis dunk, the Bucks controlled every facet of the game.

Milwaukee led by a game-high 19 points with 1:55 to play in the third quarter and Brooklyn responded to get within eight. Khris Middleton then made a statement 28-foot step-back 3-pointer from the left wing with 1.5 seconds remaining to push the Bucks back ahead by double-digits.

Antetokounmpo talked postgame on the court about how resilient the Bucks are in this series.

Yes, P.J. Tucker has been the unsung hero in this series guarding Kevin Durant like a glove. The nine-year veteran was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19 and has been a difference-maker on the defensive end of the court, especially in this series.

Tucker harassed Durant all game, forcing him to shoot 9-of-25 (36 percent) and 1-of-8 from long range. Durant also finished the game -23 in the +/- statistic, the worst of any player in the game. Tucker would also score a series-best 13 points, including three 3-pointers.

Antetokounmpo ended with 34 points (14-of-26), 12 rebounds and three assists. Middle added 19 points, eight assists, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Holiday controlled the offense with nine assists, to go along with 14 points. Brook Lopez tallied 11 rebounds, three steals and scored six points.

Sunday’s performance looked more like the Bucks of all season, instead of their 86-point performance from Thursday night. The offense was much more explosive and balanced.

Home/Milwaukee Bucks