NBA Playoffs 2021 Hawks vs Bucks Game 1 Milwaukee collapses down the stretch and loses Game 1
Jeff HanischUSA TODAY Sports
Someone explain to the Bucks that they didn’t win the NBA title by eliminating the Nets. Because it still takes 8 victories to have the Larry O’Brien trophy and, for now, they no longer have the locale in the Eastern Final. Behind Trae Young’s 48 points, the high of his career in the post-season, the Atlanta Hawks came from behind to take Game 1, 116-113, and relive all the questions that exist about Milwukee even after beating those who were the favorite to the title.
Ice Trae (48 PTS) took over to help the Hawks steal Game 1 #ECFonTNTpic.twitter.com/y9n18vXzio
? NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 24, 2021
Milwaukee scored 70 points in the paint. I only lost the ball 8 times. Only two Atlanta players scored more than 13 points. Jrue Holiday came in with 33 points and Giannis added 34. And they lost, because the shortcomings exhibited against the Nets and in past postseason runs are still there.
Again, banking as if it did not exist. Budenholzer dusted off Bobby Portis and Jeff Teague, but the non-starters added just 20 points. The triple is not his ally, with 8 of 36 (3 of 24 if we remove Jrue). And at the good hour, they failed again.
The first half, Milwaukee seemed to do what he wanted in the paint. 42 of its 59 were in the restricted zone, practically without fail; it was like a warm-up line exploiting the height and strength advantage. But they stopped doing it, falling into perimeter shots that were not their ally.
As Atlanta stayed in the game. Milwaukee was never able to put the difference in double digits and Trae Young exploited the Bucks defensive stubbornness, The screens went by behind and there was no help from the one who dialed the one who put the lock. Young had time to get his patented floats, perhaps the best in the league for it, and had plenty of time on several triples, including one where he even had time to shake his shoulders before pitching. He was 37, two short of his career high in the Playoffs, after 36 minutes, which Atlanta led after a flurry of 3s and alley oops.
Ice Trae cant be stopped #ECFonTNTpic.twitter.com/W8hUmlu4Jl
? NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 24, 2021
This Trae to Collins lob was #ECFonTNTpic.twitter.com/00Ytaz8q34
? NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 24, 2021
So everything was defined to the end. With 2:08 to play, Giannis’ third alley oop in the final 6 minutes put the game up 111-107 Bucks. On a night when Atlanta shot 8-of-32 from the field and Young was responsible for half of the hits, it seemed lapidary, but the The Hawks loved him more, proving that his last two baskets came off an offensive rebound. Yes, Milwaukee, the largest team, lost the boards 51-45 and the score 17-16 on the second chance.
Clint Capela with the clutch basket
Hawks with the late lead#ECFonTNTpic.twitter.com/8KT5j7swGa
? NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 24, 2021
The Bucks had the option to flip it, but Connaughton’s 3-pointer missed the rim and the foul game began. There was chaos with 15 seconds to go and Milwaukee ended up with the worst case scenario: Giannis down the line by three points.. Contrary to all forecasts, he scored both, like Young on the other side and now they had to play it as a triple.
Greek does not count in these situations, so eThe ball went to Middleton, who continued his hot-cold postseason with a 6-of-23 from the field, 15 points, missing the triple that would have sent into overtime. Atlanta has an advantage in the Eastern Final and the belief that they can do just about anything they want on offense. Again, as against the 76ers, they are fearless and that has already proven to be a serious problem.
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