The second remake of the last NBA final turned to the advantage of defending champion Milwaukee, carried by 44 points from Khris Middleton, against Phoenix (132-122), Sunday, when Jayson Tatum planted 54 to allow Boston to defeat Brooklyn.
On February 10, for their first reunion since the crowning of the Bucks (4-2), the Suns took revenge by inflicting a correction (131-107), then guided by the formidable duo Chris Paul / Devin Booker.
This time neither, operated on a broken thumb, nor the other, subject to the Covid protocol, were on the floor, but Phoenix resisted Milwaukee for a long time, which made the difference in the money- time.
Contrary to usual it was not Giannis Antetokounmpo who forced the decision, the “Greek Freak” (the Greek monster) having been excluded for six faults before the end, after having scored only 2 of his 19 points in second half (13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks).
The Bucks therefore relied on Middleton, who put 16 points (8 rebounds) in this last quarter, and Jrue Holiday, who added 17 to finish with 24 units (9 assists).
“He’s such a good scorer,” coach Mike Budenholzer said of Middleton. “He makes the right pass, he reads the game right, he makes the right decision. You need performances like that from your best guys, and it was a hell of an effort on his part.”
Until this fatal 12-1, conceded in the last three minutes, the Suns were very solid, despite the absence of their two leaders, two days earlier, like Deandre Ayton (30 pts, 8 rebounds ) and Cam Payne (23 pts).
– Durant in the 25,000 club –
Despite this 12th setback of the season, Phoenix largely retains the lead in the West ahead of Golden State, passed Memphis (3rd) surprised in Houston (123-112), while Utah (4th) won in Oklahoma City (116 -103), thanks to eleven long-range baskets from Bojan Bogdanovic (franchise record), Rudy Gobert also contributing (12 pts, 17 rebounds).
For its part, Milwaukee remains 3rd in the East after this fourth success in a row, two rows ahead of Boston, the team in form at the moment, winner of Brooklyn (126-120). His 14th victory in 16 games.
Tatum, who tied the franchise record for most games to at least 50 points (4 as the legendary Larry Bird), was once again the C’s strongman, evidenced by his 18 points in the final quarter -time.
“It’s what I dreamed of when I was a kid,” the winger commented on his performance. “I’ve worked my whole life to get here. Obviously I have a long way to go before I achieve everything I want to achieve, but I enjoy it doing what I love every day.”
The winger was supported by Jaylen Brown (21 pts), author of a crucial basket behind the arc, in the last seconds, to inflate the gap to six lengths.
Nets side, still stuck in 9th place, synonymous with play-offs play-offs, Kevin Durant, who found, for the fourth time of the season only, Kyrie Irving (19 pts), vainly maintained the hope of a victory, with 37 points (12/21 on shots, 8 assists, 6 rebounds).
Reason for consolation: “KD” became the 23rd player in NBA history to pass the 25,000 point mark.
Finally, note the big triple-double of reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (46 pts, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 blocks), hero of Denver’s victory (138-130 ap) against New Orleans.
