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They say that a playoff series really does not start until a road team wins a game. If so, the second round series between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks is underway.
Released with an impressive defensive play plan, the Celtics, No. 4, frustrated the Bucks in the front row throughout the afternoon, before moving away in the fourth quarter for a 112 victory. at 90, allowing them to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Al Horford was great, finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while blocking MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo's potential on the defensive side. The Greek Freak could not do anything because his orders for the basket were closed regularly. He finished with 22 points, but needed 21 shots to get them.
Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving finished with 26 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in a new post-season performance. Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier also scored 22 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists.
The amazing victory of the Celtics sets up an essential match Tuesday night. Already down 1-0, the Bucks can not afford another defeat to open this series.
Here are some takeaways from a great game 1:
Horford steps up
Al Horford is still underestimated after all these years, but he still progressed Sunday afternoon with a huge performance. Not only did he finish with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, but he played a fantastic defense against Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak could not participate in the first match, largely because of Horford. The veteran is one of the few players in the league to combine strength and athleticism to make life difficult for Giannis, and he certainly did in the opening match. Although Giannis got 22 points, he needed 21 shots to get them.
Celtics defensive play plan stifles money
The Celtics were one of the best defensive teams of the regular season, and they proved their success in the first game. It all started with the way they managed to contain Giannis. Horford led the way in this regard, but the entire team was determined to collapse in the paint to try to block it and upset it. It worked, Giannis having never really played in the first game. He only managed seven shots, including three to three points, with which the Celtics are happy to live.
And in exchange, they were ready to give some open to the Bucks' role players and force them to hit. With Brook Lopez, Sterling Brown, Ersan Ilyasova, Eric Bledsoe, Pat Connaughton and George Hill, they failed to combine 4 of their 26 players in the city center. Although the Bucks were one of the league's best 3-point regular season goals, they did more in volume than when they had snipers. It came back to bite them in the first game because they became cold.
Irving and Hayward prove their value
The Celtics beat the Bucks in the first round last season, but needed seven games to do it with their shorthanded team. This time, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward are in good health, and even if they did not pay the expected dividends as they had hoped in the regular season, they have done so far in the playoffs. Both were strong in their sweep against the Pacers in the first round, and both had solid games in match 1 on Sunday.
Irving, in particular, was special, achieving an incredible number of shots in the first quarter to help the Celtics take the advantage quickly. He finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists, and made the right decision between shooting or succeeding on a regular basis. Hayward, meanwhile, had 13 points, four rebounds and five assists. His ability not only to score but to facilitate is essential to keep the Celtics offensive afloat when Irving is absent. It may not be back to 100% All-Star, but it is clear that Hayward has confidence in himself, which is a huge boost for the Celtics.
Check back all the news, highlights and updates of the first game:
# 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. # 4 Boston Celtics
How to watch Match 2
- Date: Tuesday, April 30
- Time: 20h
- Location: Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- TV channel: TNT
- Live Statistics: GameTracker
- Streaming Online: fuboTV (try it for free)
- chances: N / A at this time
TV Lists
All games will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV during the playoffs. Games on TNT and NBA TV can be streamed via fuboTV (try it for free).
Ratings and Analysis
Check out the Sportsline NBA Selection Sheet for all your daily odds.
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