By Adam Roberts – 6/21/2021
Going into last Thursday’s Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, it felt like nobody was giving the Bucks any chance to overtake the Nets down three games to two. Even after dominating Game Six, the thought seemed to be that a road Game Seven combined with the recent history of the franchise in the postseason would combine to doom Milwaukee to just another chapter in recent Wisconsin sports postseason heartbreak.
The Bucks had other plans.
Milwaukee advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 115-111 overtime win over the Nets on Saturday in Brooklyn. Giannis Antetokounmpo racked up 40 points and 13 rebounds, while Khris Middleton tallied 23 points. The game was almost blown at the end of regulation, with Brook Lopez turning over the ball late on a shot clock violation. Then Kevin Durant hit what could have easily been a game-winning three had his toe not been on the line. Strangely enough, Durant apparently wears bigger shoes than he needs to for comfort reasons, meaning his normal sized shoe would have given the Nets the win.
In overtime, Milwaukee missed their first four shots, but thankfully the Nets didn’t fair much better. In the end, Brooklyn had an opportunity with the ball in Durant’s hands to win the game again, but his energy seemed tapped out at that point on an airball to end the night.
So it’s on to the Eastern Conference Finals once again for Milwaukee, as they hope to right the wrongs from two postseasons ago when Toronto won four straight. The Bucks will get Atlanta after they dispatched the 76ers last night. Despite Trae Young struggling from the field, Kevin Huerter stepped up with his postseason-high in scoring. The Hawks held Philadelphia to 32.1 percent from deep and its lowest scoring game of the postseason.
We’ll have coverage starting at 7pm Wednesday from Fiserv, and the joint will be jumping!