The Milwaukee Bucks was eradicated final season in a Game 7 on the street.
One extra victory, and it received’t have to fret about that.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 factors, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Jrue Holiday almost added a triple-double of his personal because the Bucks took one other step towards wrapping up the NBA’s greatest document with a 140-128 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night time.
Holiday completed with 26 factors, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, and Bobby Portis added 19 factors and 20 rebounds for Milwaukee.
The Bucks (57-22) moved to 3 video games forward of Boston with three to play, though the Celtics — who beat Milwaukee in that seven-game sequence final yr — have the head-to-head tiebreaker. Boston misplaced a 103-101 thriller at Philadelphia on Tuesday, with ex-Buck P.J. Tucker hitting massive 3-pointers down the stretch as Milwaukee gamers watched of their locker room.
After that sport ended, Antetokounmpo downplayed the significance of dwelling courtroom just a bit, noting that the Bucks was the No. 3 seed within the Eastern Conference when it received all of it two years in the past.
“At the end of the day, Boston is a beast, Philly is a beast, Cleveland is a beast, New York is a beast,” Antetokounmpo stated.
Kendrick Nunn scored 24 factors for the Wizards, who’re out of playoff competition and performed with out Bradley Beal (left knee), Kristaps Porzingis (sickness) and Kyle Kuzma (proper ankle). Washington saved it shut till late within the second quarter, when Milwaukee closed the half on a 13-5 run to steer 75-62.
It wasn’t shut after that, with the Bucks main by as many as 24 factors. Milwaukee wasn’t at full energy both. Khris Middleton (proper knee) missed the sport, which was the primary half of a back-to-back for the Bucks. Grayson Allen was additionally out after leaving Sunday’s sport towards Philadelphia with a sprained proper ankle.
Pat Connaughton performed solely 5:40 due to what coach Mike Budenholzer stated was a twisted proper ankle. Budenholzer was hopeful it’s not too critical.
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On an evening when defence was briefly provide, Antetokounmpo made an unimaginable chase-down block on Nunn within the fourth quarter together with his workforce up 15 — though Corey Kispert adopted up with a layup for the Wizards.
“His competitive fire, his competitive spirit, it’s the best,” Budenholzer stated. “A lot of guys I think don’t go get that. Not his physical ability to go get it, but just the competitiveness and the willingness to try. He’s very special that way.”
Antetokounmpo almost had his triple-double after three quarters however wanted yet another help.
