The Antetokounmpo machine has not wavered. Friday night, the MVP of last season continued his momentum by registering 36 points (14/20 in the racket, 15 rebounds, 7 assists), allowing Milwaukee to win against Boston (119-112). This is the Bucks’ 54th victory this season (12 losses), and the 19th consecutive double-double for Giannis Antetokounmpo, decidedly untenable after a first part of the season at 29.8 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.
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The strong winger, well supported by Khris Middleton (18 points, 8 assists), has not always had the easy part. The Bucks had to face the address of Marcus Smart (23 points), more incisive than the returning Kemba Walker (16 points in 19 minutes), and Jaylen Brown (22). They also had to deal with the tenacity of Celtic, who never despaired despite a failed start to the match (2-17, 9th).
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Boston thus kept Milwaukee in sight until the last quarter, started at -2 (87-89), even allowing itself to take the advantage four minutes from the end (99-98). But the charges of Antetokounmpo, author of 16 of the Bucks’ 32 points in the last period and recovered after being threatened with exclusion for a 6th foul finally canceled, got the better of Boston, which remains 3rd in the standings of the Eastern Conference.
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San Antonio keeps hope
The second meeting of the evening allowed San Antonio to hang on to a hope of qualification, thanks to its victory over Sacramento (129-120). DeMar DeRozan (27 points, 10 assists) and Derrick White (26 points, 4/9 three-pointers) were the most effective for Spurs, as were De’Aaron Fox (39 points) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (24 points) for Kings.
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One of the striking images of this meeting was captured at the time of the national anthem, when Gregg Popovich, the iconic coach of Spurs and voice of reference in the NBA, chose not to kneel, like the winger. from Orlando Jonathan Isaac a little earlier. Asked by ESPN, Popovich, T-shirt “Black Lives matter” on the back, explained to prefer “Keep it for [lui] », adding: “The League has been great on this. […] For all the reasons that are personal to me, I acted as I wanted. “
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