Los Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Sunschampions and finalists of last season of the NBAsuffered resounding eliminations this Sunday at the hands of Boston Celtics y Dallas Maverickswho advanced to the Conference Finals.
Despite the titanic effort of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks relinquished their crown by being swept 109-81 in Game 7 of the Eastern semifinals by the Celtics, who will face the Miami Heat in the Conference Finals.
In the West, meanwhile, the Suns were humiliated on their court 123-90 by the Mavericks of an imposing Luka Doncic, who came to win by 46 points to date in the Conference Finals with the Golden State Warriors.
A little bit of Vildoza in the goodbye of the Bucks in Boston
The Sunday session kicked off at the TD Garden in Boston with a bigger victory for the Celtics than expected to close the tie against Milwaukee. Power forward Grant Williams was the unexpected figure for the hosts with 27 points while forward Jayson Tatum added another 23. The Celtics took advantage of his spectacular effectiveness from the outside shot with 22 made triples, the most in a Playoff Game 7 and in any franchise postseason game.
On the other hand, the Bucks, who were able to solve the series on Friday on their court, were shipwrecked from long distance with 4 triples from 33 attempts and could only count on the push of Antetokounmpo, who finished exhausted after signing 25 points, 20 rebounds and 9 assists. Luca Vildoza played 2′ 03”, with two points (1-1 in doubles), an assist and an offensive rebound.
Milwaukee paid dearly for the absence due to injury throughout the series of All-Star shooting guard Khris Middleton, who was a key player in winning last year’s title, which ended a half-century drought for the Bucks.
Al Horford and Jaylen Brown against Giannis Antetokounmpo. (AP)
“I am proud of the boys, of the effort they made, we had chances to win,” said Antetokounmpo, who was left without the coveted second ring despite his historic performance in these playoffs. The Greek, twice MVP of the league, was the first player against the Celtics to reach at least 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a playoff series. With the departure of the Bucks, the NBA will have a new champion for the fourth consecutive season.
With Doncic there was beating
At the Phoenix Footprint Center, the Mavericks gave the big surprise of the playoffs by firing the Suns with a 33-point win led by Luka Doncic. The Soles, the best team by far in the regular phase (64 wins and 18 losses), had a nightmarish night without any response to the exhibition dthe Slovenian, who had 35 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes, supported by substitute Spencer Dinwiddie, with 30 points. Devin Booker (11 points), Chris Paul (10) and the rest of the Suns figures staged a real debacle that caused numerous boos from the stands.
“Everyone thought we were going to lose and that motivated us. We are an amazing team and we didn’t deserve this win,” Doncic said. “A lot of people said it was going to be a blowout. Well, they were right, but they didn’t have us on the winning side,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said.
At 23 years old, Doncic completed another exhibition for history in which he went into the break with 27 points, the same as all Suns players combined. No other player had matched or surpassed the opposing team’s point total at halftime in the last 25 playoffs.
Doncic returned to play against everyone. (AFP)
The pressure and defense of the Mavericks caused a short circuit in the Suns’ attack in which their greatest figures, Booker and Paul, who aspired to have a second chance in the Finals, succumbed. Chris Paul, far below his level for much of the series, didn’t make a field goal until the Suns were already down 40 points. The future member of the Hall of Fame failed in a new attempt to achieve his coveted first ring when he just turned 37 years old. “I don’t think it was (my best chance). We’ll be back next year, I’m not going to retire tomorrow. Luckily I’m healthy and I’m going to keep playing,” the point guard stressed.
The Dallas will face Stephen Curry’s Warriors in their first appearance in the Western Finals since winning their only NBA ring in 2011 under Dirk Nowitzki.
The best five plays of Sunday in the NBA
Conference finals program
— EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS:
– Miami Heat (1) vs Boston Celtics (2)
Tuesday, May 17: Heat vs. Celtics
Thursday, May 19: Heat vs. Celtics
Saturday May 21: Celtics vs. Heat
Monday, May 23: Celtics vs. Heat
Wednesday, May 25: Heat vs. Celtics (if necessary)
Friday May 27: Celtics vs Heat (if necessary)
Sunday, May 29: Heat vs. Celtics (if necessary)
— WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS:
– Golden State Warriors (3) vs Dallas Mavericks (4)
Wednesday, May 18: Warriors vs. Mavericks
Friday, May 20: Warriors vs. Mavericks
Sunday, May 22: Mavericks vs. Warriors
Tuesday, May 24: Mavericks vs. Warriors
Thursday May 26: Warriors vs Mavericks (if necessary)
Saturday May 28: Mavericks vs Warriors (if necessary)
Monday, May 30: Warriors vs. Mavericks (if necessary)
