BBNBA: Bucks Advance to ECF, Warriors Lose Durant
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(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]
Good morning, folks. The Milwaukee Bucks got its sweet, sweet revenge against the Boston Celtics. Let's talk NBA Playoffs.
(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]
Good morning, folks. The Milwaukee Bucks got its sweet, sweet revenge against the Boston Celtics. Let's talk NBA Playoffs.
RECAP
(4) Celtics - 91 @ (1) Bucks - 116 (MIL wins 4-1)
- The Milwaukee Bucks have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001 and did so in convincing fashion. Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists for the Bucks, who won the last four games by a combined 65 points. After dropping Game 1 in embarrassing style, the Bucks shifted into the highest gear to dominate the Celtics throughout the rest of the series. The Bucks bench was a massive help, especially guys such as George Hill, Pat Connaughton, and Nikola Mirotic.
- Eric Bledsoe finished with 18 points and six rebounds in Game 5. He had an up-and-down series as far as production goes, but still averaged over 13 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists through five games. The secondary backcourt made up for any poor stints by Bledsoe, but overall he played a solid series.
- Celtics All-Star Kyrie Irving had a series he'll hope to forget as soon as possible. After referencing how he wouldn't ever shoot 8-22 again as he did in Game 3, Irving then went and shot 7-22 and 6-21 in the two games that followed (so, technically, he was right). Now all eyes will be on the galaxy-brained superstar to make a decision in the summer. After watching how everything went down between Irving and the Celtics this season, it's a safe bet to assume he won't be eager to sign another deal with Boston. Get those checkbooks open, Los Angeles and New York.
(4) Rockets - 99 @ (1) Warriors - 104 (GSW leads 3-2)
- Well, this isn't good news. The best player thus far in the 2019 NBA playoffs, Kevin Durant, had to leave in the third quarter of Game 5 following a non-contact injury. After firing up a baseline jumper over Iman Shumpert, Durant seemingly landed without an issue, but immediately started to hobble and went straight to the locker room. The non-contact injuries typically end up being the worst version of said injury, but according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Durant suffered only a right calf strain instead of the torn Achilles everyone quickly feared. He finished with 22 points.
Kevin Durant went to the locker room after suffering an apparent non-contact leg injury pic.twitter.com/9Xsja5aPma
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 9, 2019
- As for the game, Houston found themselves in a deep hole not long into the game. A 14-point Warriors advantage after one quarter exuded blowout vibes, especially inside Oracle Arena. Klay Thompson was hot, adding 27 points and the critical layup with under five seconds left to secure the win. But a disastrous third quarter from Golden State where they scored only 15 points and turned the ball over six times gave the Rockets a fighting chance down the stretch. James Harden poured in 31 points, but it wasn't enough in the end to steal a win on the road. Now Houston will head back home in a do-or-die Game 6. Durant's status for that game is currently unknown.
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