Still deprived of Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez, the Bucks thought they had achieved the perfect “heist” in the last minute tonight, when they returned to a small possession of the Wolves (108-106), after a big shoot awkward Khris Middleton. It was without counting on the composure of Anthony Edwards (25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), author of an “and-one” capital 15 seconds from the end, then a 2/2 to the free throws a few moments later, to definitively push back the reigning champions (113-108).
Defending champions who chased the score all evening, without finding the solution either against Karl-Anthony Towns (25 points, 5 assists, 3 blocks) and D’Angelo Russell (29 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists ).
Giannis Antetokounmpo (40 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks) had beautiful chain the baskets in the racket, behind the arc and in free throws, he sorely lacked support today. It must be said that the whole of Milwaukee has never been able to adjust the sights to 3-points (14/51 cumulative…), to the delight of Minnesota, which confirms its interesting start to the season.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A thunderous first quarter of Minnesota. 44 points scored (against 34 conceded). 68% success on shots, including 60% at 3-pointers. It is an understatement to say that the Wolves had a great start tonight, in the wake of D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, authors who accumulated 35 points in the first twelve minutes of the game. The Bucks weren’t bad, but they ran into an opponent in a state of grace offensively, well launched by an aggressive Russell and in sync with his shot, before Edwards and then Towns took over, all neat and uninhibited. nothing to force either.
– Wolves never let go of the advantage. Boosted by their fiery first quarter, the Minneapolis players clung to the controls of the game from start to finish. Never led in scoring, and with a lead of up to 20 points in the second act, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and company clinched a decisive victory for the defending champions. This should serve as a launching pad for the group of Chris Finch, who clearly seems to have the weapons to target the Top 8 in the West.
– Giannis Antetokounmpo tried everything, in vain. In 35 minutes of play, the “Greek Freak” compiled 40 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks, at 15/23 on shots, 3/6 on 3-points and 7/9 on free throws. Irreproachable from start to finish, the MVP of the 2021 Finals struggled all evening to allow his people to pick up on the scoreboard, but he could not do better than a reduction of the gap to -2, in the “money-time”. Always dominating in the racket, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed his first big card of the season … but he lost at the finish.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards et Karl-Anthony Towns. The Wolves’ designated “Big Three” led by example, as each scored at least 25 points. Not everything was perfect, like the 3/11 behind Russell’s arc, 9/24 on shots and 2/10 3-pointers from Edwards, or Towns’ 7 losses. , but the major trio from Minnesota have proven they have the shoulders to lead a whole group to prestigious success at a big league team. Especially when the danger approached, in the “money-time”.
✅ Jarred Vanderbilt. In the shadow of his “Big Three”, the 22-year-old winger took care of doing the dirty work, finishing in a double-double (10 points and 13 rebounds, including 6 offensive), in 30 minutes. Sent on a defensive mission to Giannis Antetokounmpo, for his first tenure of the season, the former Nuggets player managed as best he could to slow down the double MVP, and his activity on both sides of the floor proved to be invaluable for its frankness. A “role player” who knows his role (it is the case to say it) perfectly, and which will undoubtedly need Minnesota to hope to rally the playoffs.
⛔ Khris Middleton. Unlike Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was previously discussed, the other Bucks All-Star failed to shine tonight. If he took advantage of the last quarter to embellish his stats line (8 points in this period), the recent Olympic gold medalist has never weighed on the meeting before, posting at the finish 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals on the clock, but only 6/16 on shots and especially 1/8 on 3-points. A match to forget, then.
“BOBBY BUCKETS” HAS BEGUN
Favorite of the Fiserv Forum, Bobby Portis played his first game of the season and his many fans did not fail to greet him, reserving him a superb “standing ovation” on his arrival on the field. Not really seen to his advantage today (6 points and 3 rebounds, in 15 minutes), the 26-year-old interior, who extended for two years in Wisconsin this summer, is still a weight reinforcement for the Milwaukee racket.
THE FOLLOWING
Milwaukee (3-2) : reception in San Antonio, in the night from Saturday to Sunday (2:00 am).
Minnesota (3-1): Denver reception, Saturday night through Sunday (3:00 am).
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