On their way to the title last year, the Bucks had dismissed the Nets in the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference after an exceptional series, completed after extra time in game N.7.
It is this type of match offered by the two teams at Barclays Center, driven, in the home stretch of the regular season, by separate objectives. Brooklyn (8th) wants to finish 7th in order to receive in the play-off, Milwaukee (2nd) aims for the top of the standings, to also have the advantage of the floor, but in the play-offs.
Antetokounmpo, despite a shovelful of lost balls (8), was as usual the strongman of the Bucks (44 pts, 14 rebounds, 6 assists). His award-winning Stephen Curry-style step-back shot sent his team into overtime, passing the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the franchise’s leading scorer.
His two free throws, an area where he is less and less feverish (15/19), in the dying seconds ensured success for the Bucks, who were then relieved to see the winning shot, attempted at the buzzer by Kevin Durant behind the arch, finally coming out of the arch.
The “Greek Freak” (the Greek monster) was assisted by Jrue Holiday (19 pts), because Khris Middleton (16 pts) was excluded for a flagrant foul in the 3rd quarter, for having caught, in the flight, the arm of Bruce Brown (23 pts) who fell heavily, without being injured however.
Opposite, Durant was very active (26 pts, 11 assists, 7 rebounds) and Kyrie Irving brought 25 points. Above all, even if the reward is not at the end, the collective game has still shown signs of improvement.
On the strength of this second victory in a row, Milwaukee slightly widens the gap on Philadelphia (4th), which conceded its third consecutive defeat (102-94) at the poorly ranked Detroit (14th).
Joel Embiid (37 pts, 15 rebounds) nevertheless held his rank, unlike James Harden (18 pts, 4/15 on shots, 9 rebounds, 7 assists).
Behind the Sixers, the Bulls (5th) winners of the Clippers (135-130) are approaching, thanks to the big box of DeMar DeRozan, author of 50 points (two units from his personal best), including ten in overtime.
Despite Reggie Jackson (34 pts), Paul George (22 pts) and Nicolas Batum, very active (17 pts, 5 rbds, 3 blocks), LA takes the hit after this sixth setback in seven matches.
But the Clips, almost certain to finish 8th in the West, are not fighting to play the play-offs, unlike the Lakers, again in the red zone (11th) after their loss (122-109) at the Jazz (5th).
Without LeBron James or Anthony Davis, the 2020 champion, too often apathetic lately, has not been undeserved this time, like Russell Westbrook (24 pts, 7 assists) and Dwight Howard (21 pts, 12 rebounds) .
But that was not enough against Donovan Mitchell (29 pts) and Rudy Gobert, author of one of his best matches of the season on the offensive level (25 pts at 9/11, 17 rebounds, 2 blocks).
