MANILA – Milwaukee Bucks forced a do-or-die Game 7 on Saturday night after pulling off a wire-to-wire victory against Brooklyn Nets, 104-89, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Thursday night at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jrue Holiday served as the three-man show for the Bucks all match long as they leveled the best-of-seven series at 3-3.
Middleton set a career playoff-high with 38 points and 10 rebounds, Antetokounmpo had a double-double of 30 points and 17 caroms, while Holiday chipped in 21 points for Milwaukee.
The Bucks heated the evening with a strong 15-5 lead on aggressive drives by Antetokounmpo and perimeter hits by Holiday and Brook Lopez.
Milwaukee expanded the gap in the second canto as they came to within 34-21.
Brooklyn made a run behind James Harden and Blake Griffin record 40-44, but late hits by Middleton stretched the Bucks’ advantage to 59-48.
The Bucks surged the gap further in the third period with Antetokounmpo’s inside baskets and Middleton’s outside shots as they thwarted several runs by the Nets to remain on top 78-67.
Brooklyn threatened Milwaukee’s advantage at 77-82 in the fourth quarter on consecutive jumpers by Joe Harris, but 10-0 blasts by Antetokounmpo and Middleton established a 92-77 lead.
Free throws by Holiday and a dunk from Antetokounmpo, followed by a rare four-point play and a two-pointer by Middleton, earned Bucks their massive advantage at 102-81.
Kevin Durant recorded a double-double of 32 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets – which played without Kyrie Irving due to an injury. Harden got 16 markers, seven assists, and five rebounds, while Griffin scored 12 markers.
BOX SCORE:
MILWAUKEE 104 – Middleton 38, G. Antetokounmpo 30, Holiday 21, Lopez 8, Tucker 3, T. Antetokounmpo 2, Forbes 2, Connaughton 0, Jackson 0, Diakite 0, Bryant 0.
BROOKLYN 89 – Durant 32, Harden 16, Griffin 12, Harris 9, Green 5, A. Johnson 4, Perry 4, Brown 3, Luwawu-Cabarrot 2, Shamet 2, T. Johnson 0, James 0, Chiozza 0, Claxton 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
26-19, 59-48, 78-67, 104-89./PN
