Updated April 17, 2023 | 14:49
Reading time: 2 mins
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo injured
Photo:
APA/dpa/Reuters/sda
Kold shower for the Milwaukee Bucks at the start of the NBA play-offs: The best team in the regular season not only lost their opening match at home against the Miami Heat 117:130 on Sunday in the strongest basketball league in the world, but also their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo because of a Injury. Meanwhile, the NBA clubs from Los Angeles drove away wins: The Lakers won 128:112 at the Memphis Grizzlies, the Clippers won 115:110 at the Phoenix Suns.
The Bucks were the NBA’s top regular-season team with 58 wins. However, the NBA champion of 1971 and 2021 lost his most important player to Miami early on. Antetokounmpo fell hard on his back in the first quarter and was off the floor by the second quarter. The Greek could now miss a few games. The top player on the Heat where Tyler Herro broke his right hand was Jimmy Butler with 35 points and 11 assists.
Rui Hachimura, meanwhile, stole the show from his fellow stars in the Lakers’ win in Memphis. The Japanese scored 29 points, Austin Reaves contributed 23 points and LeBron James had 21 points. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have their best player, Ja Morant, to worry about. He fell on his wrist in the final quarter and wasn’t used again after that.
The record champions from Los Angeles are now leading 1-0 in the “best of seven” series, as is their city rival. Led by Kawhi Leonard, who scored 38 points, the Clippers hijacked an important away win from Phoenix. The Suns went away empty-handed despite 27 points from Kevin Durant and 26 from Devin Booker. It was Durant’s first loss in the Suns jersey since his February transfer. The Denver Nuggets, on the other hand, lived up to their role as favorites in game one against the Minnesota Timberwolves and won 109-80.
2023-04-17 19:03:55
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