Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 factors and grabbed 14 rebounds on Saturday to spark the Milwaukee Bucks into the NBA Cup last with a 110-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The Greek massive man additionally added 9 assists, 4 blocks and a steal whereas capturing 10-of-15 from the ground and 12-of-18 from the free throw line. Milwaukee will play for the title on Tuesday in Las Vegas towards the winner of Saturday’s later Vegas semi-final between the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Houston Rockets.
“We acquired stops. That was an important factor,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “They have been feeling snug, attending to their spots. We have been capable of disrupt their offense.
“We have been transferring the ball, enjoying workforce basketball, attending to our spots, flattening a couple of pictures down the stretch. That is why we have been capable of get the win.”
The Bucks additionally had 25 factors from Damian Lillard and 16 extra from Brook Lopez whereas Trae Younger led Atlanta with 35 factors, 10 assists and 7 rebounds.
The Bucks, who made an unbeaten run to final yr’s inaugural semi-finals of the in-season event earlier than shedding to Indiana, have been the one workforce to make a return journey to this yr’s final 4.
They have been impressed by NBA scoring chief Antetokounmpo and his starvation after final yr’s Cup close to miss.
“Benefit from the sport, take it a possession at a time and win the sport. That is it,” Antetokounmpo mentioned on what he informed his teammates. “If we compete, we’ll win the sport.”
After a 2-8 begin to the marketing campaign, the Bucks have gone 12-3 since.
“We belief each other. We play collectively. There is no extra hero ball,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “At first of the season we tried to do it by ourselves. It had a nasty impact on the workforce. We discovered we have now to compete as a workforce, transfer the ball as a workforce, compete collectively.
“We have modified our season round however we have got to maintain going. The job shouldn’t be performed to this point. We have to maintain enjoying collectively and hope we get higher.”
Two Jalen Johnson dunks late within the third quarter gave the Hawks an 83-82 lead coming into the fourth. Younger scored 14 factors within the third quarter and Lillard netted 11.
The sport stayed on a knife’s edge into the ultimate minutes however Antetokounmpo had six factors in a 7-1 Bucks run for a 103-96 lead with 3:13 to play.
Younger answered with two free throws and a jumper however Brook Lopez scored to present Milwaukee a 105-100 edge and Lillard sank a driving floater from the free throw line for a 107-100 lead with 23 seconds remaining.
The Bucks drained free throws down the stretch to safe the victory.
– Large runs early –
Antetokounmpo scored two fast-break layups in a 7-0 Bucks run to start out the competition however the Hawks answered with the subsequent seven as a part of a 21-9 run to grab the lead.
The Bucks started the second quarter with a 12-0 run for a 38-28 edge and led 55-49 at half-time.
Lillard scored 10 factors within the second quarter whereas Antetokounmpo had 14 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists within the first half and Younger had 12 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists for the Hawks within the first half.
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