By Adam Roberts – 7/2/2021
All day yesterday leading up to the Bucks-Hawks game, I had to hear about how the Bucks needed Khris Middleton to become Batman with Giannis out of commission. Not many considered the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the locker room would rally around their injured teammate and take the opportunity to spread the basketball around more (except for Pops on The Sports Lead, that is!)
That’s exactly what happened last night, with Brook Lopez’s playoff career-high 33 points pacing a balanced attack in the 123-112 win. The victory puts the Bucks on the precipice of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1974.
Behind Brook’s 33, Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Bobby Portis all had 20+ for Milwaukee. On a night when the starters needed to work as a cohesive unit and start strong, the Bucks took care of business.
Game Six is tomorrow night in Atlanta, and while Giannis will in all likelihood be out again the jury is still out on whether or not Trae Young will return from a bone bruise. Although with the Hawks down three games to two, Nate McMillan may face some pressure to save the series with who would be the best player on the floor. Our coverage begins at 7 tomorrow evening on ESPN La Crosse 105.5.