Triple trio for Antetokounmpo, Nets down Knicks
Giannis Antetokounmpo reeled off his third straight triple-double as the Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak to four games with a 133-122 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday......»»
Bucks’ Antetokounmpo ruled out of Game 3 against Miami
Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo was ruled out of the third game of the Bucks' NBA playoff series against the Miami Heat on Saturday an hour before tip-off. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player will miss a second straight game with a lower back contusion, suffering in a bad fall in the opening game of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series. Head coach Mike Budenholzer had indicated Friday that Antetokounmpo might be ready to take the floor, but said in his pre-game remarks to reporters that it's not clear when he will return. "We'll continue to monitor him throughout the day (Sunday) and the next day," Budenholzer said. "It's not always a linear thing. He's not in a position where he can play, so we're going to continue to monitor and work with him and hope for the best." Without Antetokounmpo the Bucks won game two of the series to go into Saturday's game in Miami level at 1-1. Antetokounmpo is just one of the high-profile players with injury concerns in the first round of the playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers were without another MVP candidate in star center Joel Embiid Saturday but still beat Brooklyn 96-88 to complete their sweep of the Nets. The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in their 112-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns and Memphis's star point guard Ja Morant was questionable for the Grizzlies' game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. The post Bucks’ Antetokounmpo ruled out of Game 3 against Miami appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Grizzlies hold off Lakers to level series 1-1
The Memphis Grizzlies shook off the absence of star guard Ja Morant to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 103-93 on Wednesday and knot their NBA Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece. Xavier Tillman scored 22 points and pulled down 18 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies, who led by as many as 20 points in a bruising battle that saw Lakers center Anthony Davis suffer a small cut on his right eyelid and LeBron James drawn into a verbal back and forth with Dillon Brooks. With All-Star point guard Morant ruled out with a bruised right hand, the Grizzlies clamped down defensively, Tillman saying their message to Morant was "we've got his back, and we're going to hold it down for him." Tillman keyed Memphis's quick start, connecting on his first six shots and finishing 10-of-13 from the floor. The Grizzlies led by as many as 16 points on the way to a 59-44 halftime lead as the harried Lakers failed to find a way to get their offense firing. Davis blocked five shots in the first half but connected on just one of nine shot attempts. He finished with 13 points on four-of-14 shooting. James led all scorers with 28 points and Japan's Rui Hachimura added 20 to become the first Laker to score 20 points off the bench in back-to-back playoff games since Magic Johnson in 1996. But unlike in game one, there would be no late resurgence for the Lakers, the Grizzlies absorbing the Lakers' second-half push. Jaren Jackson Jr., the newly named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, scored 18 points, Desmond Bane added 17 and Brooks chipped in 12. Tyus Jones, starting in place of Morant, added 10 and eight assists. After the Grizzlies pushed their lead to 20 points early in the third quarter, the Lakers began to push back. Two baskets and two free throws from James launched a 17-3 Lakers scoring run that sliced the deficit to six points, but that's as close as they would get the rest of the way. Now, Tillman said, the Grizzlies will summon a "road warrior mentality" for game three of the best-of-seven series in Los Angeles on Saturday. Antetokounmpo ruled out Elsewhere the Milwaukee Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo as they tried to claw back a victory against the Miami Heat in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, suffered a lower back contusion in the first quarter of the Eastern Conference top seeds' 130-117 loss in game one on Sunday. The Bucks, the top seeds in the East and owners of the best regular-season record in the league, had hoped he would be fit to return but he was ruled out less than two hours before tip-off. "He's continued to improve," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. "But organizationally, talking and working with him and the sports performance group, a decision was made. He's out." Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, sought to extend their series lead over Minnesota when they hosted the Timberwolves in game two of their Western Conference clash. The post Grizzlies hold off Lakers to level series 1-1 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bucks scorch Heat to tie series
The Milwaukee Bucks barely noticed the injury absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo as they crushed the Miami Heat 138-122 to level their Eastern Conference series at one game apiece. With the talismanic Antetokounmpo missing after suffering a lower-back contusion in Sunday's game-one defeat, the top-seeded Bucks delivered a balanced offensive effort to overwhelm Miami. The Bucks led from early in the first quarter and never looked back, sprinting out of reach after outscoring Miami 45-27 in the second quarter to lead by a whopping 81-55 at half-time. Milwaukee kept the scoring up in the third quarter, extending their lead to 36 points at one stage to make victory a formality. Brook Lopez led the way for Milwaukee with 25 points while Jrue Holiday added 24 points as no fewer than seven Bucks players finished in double figures. "All season long guys have been in and out of the line-up, different guys have been stepping up and having those moments," said the Bucks' Bobby Portis, who finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. "Playoffs is all about moments, and we've got guys capable of having those moments. We've just got to keep it rolling," Portis added. Milwaukee did severe damage from outside the arc, shooting an astounding 25-of-49 from three-point range to tie an NBA playoff record. Jimmy Butler led the Miami scorers with 25 points while Bam Adebayo finished with 18. Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, sought to extend their series lead over Minnesota when they hosted the Timberwolves in game two of their Western Conference clash. The post Bucks scorch Heat to tie series appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Embiid NBA MVP finalists
Back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets is on track for a third straight MVP award, an accolade that was last achieved by the great Larry Bird (1984-1986). He is joined as MVP finalist by another two-time MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Jokic finished the regular season as the only player to have averaged at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists on a 60 percent shooting clip throughout the year. The Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is also making a strong case for the MVP award that could land him among the league’s elite – joining Bird, Moses Malone, and Magic Johnson. But Embiid gets to have the inside track, too, for the Michael Jordan Trophy, having an explosive run late in the season. The post Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Embiid NBA MVP finalists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No Giannis, no problem: Bucks finish season sweep of Pistons
The Milwaukee Bucks lean on a balanced effort against the lowly Detroit Pistons with at least 4 scoring 20-plus as Giannis Antetokounmpo sits out.....»»
Giannis avoids major wrist injury after 20-second All-Star Game appearance
Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo evades a major wrist injury upon further testing after playing just the first possession of the All-Star Game as a precaution.....»»
Giannis, Clarkson vie in All-Star Saturday
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is teaming up with his brothers once again on All-Star Saturday. Portland’s Damian Lillard is taking a third shot at the three-point title, Indiana’s Buddy Hield will aim to win that one again and Philadelphia’s Mac McClung now can be a slam-dunk champion at the NBA and high school levels......»»
Bucks edge Celtics in OT, extend win streak to 11
Giannis Antetokounmpo flirts with a triple-double and Jrue Holiday drops 40 as the streaking Bucks trip a Celtics side missing four starters.....»»
Bucks roll to win over LeBron-less Lakers
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks match their longest winning streak of the season as LeBron James sits outs for the Lakers after setting the NBA's all-time scoring record.....»»
Bucks star completes NBA dream journey
Milwaukee---As the last seconds ticked away before Milwaukee won the NBA Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo thought not about his amazing performance but instead pondered his incredible journey from poverty to champion......»»
Milwaukee Bucks are 2021 NBA champs
Milwaukee–Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in an astounding all-around performance and the Milwaukee Bucks captured their first NBA title since 1971 by defeating the Phoenix Suns 105-98 on Tuesday (Wednesday morning, July 21, 2021, Philippine time). The Bucks won the best-of-seven NBA Finals by four games to two, becoming only the fifth team to claim […] The post Milwaukee Bucks are 2021 NBA champs appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Bucks focused as fans eye end to 50-year NBA title drought
Milwaukee—Milwaukee Bucks supporters are buzzing about the possible end of a 50-year NBA title drought while star Giannis Antetokounmpo fights to keep his focus with a crown tantalyzingly near......»»
Bucks lose Thanasis Antetokounmpo to COVID-19 protocols
Milwaukee Bucks reserve forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of Greek star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, was placed into COVID-19 safety protocols on Saturday before game five of the NBA Finals......»»
Bucks beat Suns to move one win from end of 50-year NBA drought
Powered by 32 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo and late heroics from Jrue Holiday, the Milwaukee Bucks moved within one win of their first title in 50 years by defeating the Phoenix Suns 123-119 on Saturday in the NBA Finals......»»
Bucks close in on NBA title, rally past Suns
Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 32 points and nine rebounds to fuel the visiting Milwaukee Bucks to a 123-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Khris Middleton added 29 points for the Bucks, who shot a blistering 57.5 percent from the floor to win their third straight game and […] The post Bucks close in on NBA title, rally past Suns appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Bucks storm back vs Suns, even NBA Finals series at 2-2
After playing catch-up for most of the game, Middleton's buckets and defensive plays by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday swung the momentum to the Bucks, who tied the series 2-2......»»
Suns will try to build a wall vs Giannis in Game 4
Antetokounmpo was a key contributor in Milwaukee's breakthrough Game Three win on Sunday (Monday in Manila), where he dropped 41 points and 13 rebounds en route to the 120-100 routing of the Suns......»»
Suns try to keep Bucks from tying Finals
Milwaukee —A frustrated Phoenix Suns squad, struggling to slow Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, risks losing its NBA Finals lead unless it can find some answers in the next two days......»»
Giannis scores 41 as Bucks trim Suns’ lead in NBA Finals
Milwaukee—Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 41 points and grabbed 13 rebounds on Sunday to lead Milwaukee over Phoenix 120-100, reviving the Bucks’ chances to win their first NBA Finals in 50 years. The 26-year-old Greek forward joined Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 and LeBron James in 2016 as the only NBA Finals players with back-to-back 40-point, 10-rebound performances. […] The post Giannis scores 41 as Bucks trim Suns’ lead in NBA Finals appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Bucks come home desperate for win over Suns in NBA Finals
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t been able to beat Phoenix all season. Now they have two days to figure out how or risk being swept in the NBA Finals. The Bucks enter Sunday’s third game in the best-of-seven championship series trailing 2-0 and no team in NBA history has ever won a series […] The post Bucks come home desperate for win over Suns in NBA Finals appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»