Lthe champions Milwaukee Bucks survived, by fractions of a second, 103-101 to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern semi-final against the Boston Celtics. Marcus Smart missed the second free throw down two points, there were multiple taps to the rim and Al Horford managed to score, but time had run out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo signed one of the best games of his career in the Playoffs, with 42 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. His last two points turned the game around with 44.3 seconds left.after the fierce comeback of the Celtics, who came to be down by up to 13 in the last quarter, until two free kicks by Jaylen Brown gave them 100-99 with 1:49 to play.
The triples continue without falling for the Bucks (9-for-34 in Game 3 after going 15-for-52 in the first two in Boston), but they showed a greater intensity than in the second of the series, in which they never woke up after a bad start, perhaps the product of having done their homework and stealing the home in Game 1.
The third quarter was vital for the Bucks. A partial of 34-17 after losing by four (46-50) at the break. But Boston never gave up, not even at 86-73 with less than 10 minutes left.
Milwaukee continues to miss its closer, Khris Middleton, and it nearly cost them the game. Horford scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarterin which he also gave three assists. Jaylen Brown he scored 15 to pretty much single-handedly bring Boston back (the other seven in the fourth quarter were two from Tatum, two from Smart and three from White).
After they took the lead, Brown and Smart missed 3-pointers that would have extended the margin to two possessions. Milwaukee dodged the bullets and went to Giannis. The Greek responded with a basket over Grant Williams that turned it around. Brown fell from the other side in the paint and Jrue Holiday added two more points in a chaotic play in which Tatum fell and left him alone in front of the free throw line.
The Bucks didn’t give Boston a chance to go for a 3-pointer and force overtime, making a foul with no shot option. Smart’s miss was perfect, there was opportunity for spikes, but they literally ran out of time and are down in the series.
Game 4 is Monday in Milwaukee.
