Thursday, May 16, 2019

Lopez, Bucks Rally Past Raptors in Game 1

The Milwaukee Bucks pulled out a 108-100 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Fiserv Forum. Brook Lopez scored a team-high 29 points for Milwaukee, which trailed 83-76 entering the fourth quarter but opened the period on a 20-8 run and never looked back.

Lopez grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked four shots and added two assists in the victory. He scored 13 in the fourth quarter to spearhead the Bucks' comeback.  
He hit three 3's in the final period, the biggest coming with under two minutes to play to give the Bucks a four-point advantage.
Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 29 points in Game 1. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)
Despite going 6-for-35 from three-point range in the first three quarters, the Bucks managed to sustain homecourt advantage in the series. They connected on five of nine treys in the final frame. They also withstood a 30-point effort from Kyle Lowry, who drained 7-of-9 shots from three-point territory. Kawhi Leonard posted a game-high 31 points, while Pascal Siakam added 15 points with six rebounds.

 MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points and a game-best 14 rebounds. Khris Middleton corralled 11 rebounds and registered 11 points.

 The Bucks got a spark off their bench from guard Malcolm Brogdon, the 2017 Rookie of the Year. Brogdon, 26, suffered a foot injury last month and did not return until the final game of the Bucks’ conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics.

Brogdon accumulated 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while grabbing three rebounds and dishing three assists in 27 minutes. 

The Bucks closed the contest on a 10-0 run. Game 2 is Friday night in Milwaukee.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, May 6, 2019

Jokic, Murray Lead Nuggets to Series-Tying Win

Less than 48 hours removed from a heartbreaking four-overtime loss, the Denver Nuggets secured a gusty 116-112 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers to even the Western Conference Semifinals series at two games apiece.

 Nikola Jokic registered his fourth triple-double of the postseason with a 21-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist performance. Jokic fought through fatigue and posted his second consecutive triple-double, having played 65 minutes in Friday's 4-OT loss.



Jamal Murray scored a game-best 34 points in the win.  The Nuggets outscored the Trail Blazers 27-14 in the third quarter, before holding on in the final frame behind some clutch free throw shooting. Murray knocked down all 11 of his free throw attempts, including six in the waning minutes of action. He has scored over 30 points in back-to-back games, the first Nuggets player to accomplish this feat in the postseason since Carmelo Anthony did so in 2010.
Jamal Murray outplayed Damian Lillard in Denver's Game 4 victory. (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
CJ McCollum recorded 29 points and Damian Lillard scored 28 for the Trail Blazers, who lost at home for the first time this postseason. Seth Curry scored 16 off the bench—14 coming in the second quarter in which he hit four 3's.

 Paul Millsap logged his third straight double-double, producing 21 points and corralling 10 rebounds in the Game 4 win.

 The Nuggets received a major scare when Jokic limped off the court in the final minutes with a leg injury, but he returned on the next possession. 

 Head coach Michael Malone dismissed the ailment afterward, saying, "He just got kneed, nothing serious." 

 The Nuggets return home for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)