Milwaukee is the defending champion and sent the message on Sunday in the NBA play-offs, winning with authority in Boston (101-89) to recover the advantage of the floor from the start of the conference semi-finals , just like Golden State with a blast in Memphis (117-116).
The series has only just begun and the Bucks are only leading 1-0, but their show of force, in the wake of Giannis Antetokounmpo, strong on all fronts with a triple-double (24 pts, 13 rebounds, 12 assists) to the key, calmed the ardor of the bubbling TD Garden, which begins to dream this season of a record 18th title.
The Bucks' performance is all the more remarkable as it was achieved in the absence of Khris Middleton, who is nursing a sprained ligament in his left knee and is unlikely to be able to return anytime soon.
But the forces involved are not lacking, like Jrue Holiday, the team's third offensive trident, who was the leader since he finished top scorer (25 pts, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 interceptions ).
The Milwaukee team not only got the better of the league's best defense, they did even better, as their deterrence was the difference as the C's were limited to 33.3% on shots, sending no less than 50 attempts behind the arc for only 18 entries.
Proof that they were not armed to approach closer.
Tatum and Brown muffled
Jayson Tatum, twice spectacularly countered by Giannis, paid the price for the special treatment reserved for him (21 pts at 6/18).
Ditto for Jaylen Brown, stifled (12 pts, at 4/13, 9 rebounds).
In this match with high intensity in duels, Marcus Smart (10 pts, 6 assists), voted best defender in the league this season, suffered physically.
A pinched nerve in his right shoulder, after a catch from Jevon Carter, forced him to seek treatment before the break, and in the 3rd quarter he hurt his right knee.
It was by taking Boston at its own game that Milwaukee won, already having a ten-point lead at the break, which peaked at 17 in the 3rd quarter, without faltering at the end of the game.
“
We had to beat them.
We must be there tonight, contain them as firmly as possible, make it as difficult for them as possible
, "summarized Antetokounmpo, very determined, like this slightly crazy dunk after bouncing the ball on the board. .
In the West, it was after an unbreathable meeting until the last second that the Warriors won against the Grizzlies, to score the first point.
bright poole
Klay Thompson (15 pts, at 6/19), although in difficulty for a long time, was clinical to definitively put his team back in front of a basket behind the arc 36.6 sec from the buzzer.
The back was a little less so afterwards, surprisingly missing two free throws which could have taken a three-point lead, and did not hide his relief, seeing Ja Morant miss his double-step on the last action.
The "
Spider-Man
" from Memphis has absolutely not deserved (34 pts, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, 3 interceptions), excellent on both sides of the field, supported by Jaren Jackson Jr (33 pts, 10 rebounds) in offensive performance unexpected for the defender that he is first.
Pulled by this double locomotive, the Grizzlies led by 13 lengths in the 2nd quarter.
And things were looking all the better as the "
warrior
" Draymond Green was sent off before the break for a flagrant second-category foul, after kicking Brandon Clarke in the face and knocking his jersey down. .
“
We kept our calm, we knew the game would last 48 minutes.
You have to find a way to win
,” Curry said.
This is where Jordan Poole came off the bench all bright (31 pts, personal best in the play-offs, 9 assists, 8 rebounds) to keep the Warriors house afloat.
Stephen Curry (24 pts) then took over and Golden State in turn counted a lead of ten units at the start of the fourth, which was reduced to one.
Sufficient.