NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
PLAYOFFS: ROUND TWO
GAME ONE
Bucks 107
Nets 115
FINAL
The Flatbush Villans Take Game One
I believe Steve Nash as much, and any player deserves his fair share of credit for reengineering the game plan in Saturday's series opener against Milwaukee. In under a New York minute, James Harden was out of the game and walking back towards the locker room. He did not return.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 34 points in 35 minutes. The Nets were also getting exploited in the paint. But Kyrie Irving answered Giannis with 20 points in the first half and finished with 25 points. But if you think that's a nine-point disparity between the two players, you're wrong. That's a reflection of halftime adjustments. Kyrie Irving finished with a game-high eight assists, and Blake Griffin, Joe Harris, and Mike James were direct beneficiaries.
Griffin was a whirlwind, doing a little of everything. He shot 7/13 from the field, including 4/8 from behind the arc for 18 vital points. Blake's hustle, his game-high 14 rebounds, three assists, and two steals were nothing less than commendable. In James Harden's absence, Joe Harris goes 7/11 from the field, including 5/9 from behind the arc for 19 points. Mike James played a huge role with twelve points, seven rebounds, and three assists with a plus-twelve in 30 minutes off the bench.
Kevin Durant played a game-high 40 minutes, leading the Nets with 29 points and ten rebounds.
Brooklyn got destroyed in the paint by a 72-48 margin and got outrebounded by eleven. However, Flatbush outscored the Bucks 45-18 from behind the arc. Without Harden, the Nets were still able to register four more assists than Milwaukee. The Nets also had more steals, more blocks, and turned the ball over less.
Even though Milwaukee put up 32 points in the first quarter, the Nets only trailed by two. The Bucks would fail to register 30 points in any of the ensuing three quarters. Meanwhile, Brooklyn exceeded 30 points in three of the four sessions en route to an eight-point margin of victory. Milwaukee starters account for 90 points, the bench adds 17 points. Brooklyn's starting FOUR (minus James Harden) drops 91 points, while the bench, led by Mike James, contributes 24 points.
Through four games now, the Bucks are still yet to face Brooklyn's Big Three. James Harden's status is still as yet undetermined.
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