After almost three months of competition, some think that a Bucks / Warriors could well be the poster of the next Finals. While waiting to get there, the two teams challenged each other last night at the Fiserv Forum and it was the defending champions who enforced their law at home (118-99).
And how ! Because, beyond the raw result, it’s really the way that really matters, since Milwaukee has: massacred, crushed, humiliated (as you choose) Golden State. No more no less. An impressive show of force offered, collectively, by the men of Mike Budenholzer, obviously led by a Giannis Antetokounmpo of the great evenings (30 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and 3 blocks, in 30 minutes!).
Khris Middleton (23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists) and Bobby Portis (20 points, 7 rebounds) were also not outdone for the franchise of Wisconsin, irresistible in the first half (77-38!) And who simply left no chance for teammates Stephen Curry (12 points, 4/11 on shots) and Klay Thompson (11 points, 3/11 on shots).
The Bucks take the opportunity to regain their morale, after their four losses in five games, while the Warriors have now won only one of their last five meetings …
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Milwaukee’s perfect first half. 77 points scored, 38 points conceded, 63% on shots, 50% on 3-points, 11 ball losses and 10 fouls provoked, 14 points scored on the counter-attack, 18 assists, 31 to 20 on the rebound, a basket in the buzzer… EVERYTHING, absolutely everything came in and succeeded at the Bucks before the break! A true symphony, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo (23 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists), Bobby Portis (17 points, 6 rebounds) and Khris Middleton (14 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists), with snipers Grayson Allen and Wes Matthews who joined in the fun. What a treat, what insolence!
— Unrecognizable golden state. Without Draymond Green, these Warriors are obviously not the same and this trip to Wisconsin has shown it. It didn’t take long to understand that Steve Kerr’s men were going to have a bad night. Exploded in the racket by Giannis Antetokounmpo, handicapped by faults, clumsy as possible and with absent subscribers in defense, the “Dubs” sank minute after minute, without managing to react for a single moment. The second half will at least have allowed them to make the score more flattering but, whatever happens, this setback is worrying to say the least.
— Milwaukee’s message. Lurking in the shadows since the start of the season, the Bucks were necessarily keen to shine tonight, on the national airwaves, against these Warriors that some imagine taking back their throne this year. Very quickly, the reigning champions therefore tried to remember who they were, under the leadership of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis. In order to succeed in this new benchmark match against a trophy contender Larry O’Brien. Because, yes: even without Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez, the franchise of Wisconsin remains able to give lessons to adversaries of choice.
LES TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Milwaukee Holders. From Giannis Antetokounmpo to Bobby Portis, via Khris Middleton, Grayson Allen and Wes Matthews, it was all the starting five of the Bucks who shone last night. Once again imperial in a big meeting, the “Greek Freak” masterfully led his collective, which surfed on its excellent game to sanction each defensive error of the Warriors. The circle seemed immense for the local shooters, while the interiors walked on the racket of the “Dubs”, short of solutions in front of the dangerousness of the opposing attackers. A true masterpiece, produced as a team.
⛔️ Golden State’s first half. Before finding some colors on the return from the locker room, and reducing the gap somewhat, the Warriors first delivered 24 terrible first minutes. So much so that they were already 39 units behind at the break, the 3rd biggest deficit in their entire history, in just one half! Terribly clumsy (25% on shots, 20% at 3-points …) and dominated in all areas of the game, Steve Kerr’s men simply fell on stronger than them and they will have to quickly forget this spanking, because they will play this Friday in Chicago. Another cador from the East …
???? #NBA75 | ???????????????? ???????????????? points differences conceded by the Warriors, over a ???????????? ???????????????????? half *:
▪ -????????, ????????. Lakers (1972)
▪ -????????, ????????. Hawks (1961)
► -????????, ????????. ???????????????????? (????????????????) ????* ????????: 1ᵉ or 2ᵉ half time.#DubNation pic.twitter.com/7YAr76vneq
— NBA Stats France ???????? (@nbastatsfrance) January 14, 2022
THE FOLLOWING
Milwaukee (27-17) : Toronto reception, Saturday night to Sunday (12:30 a.m.).
Golden State (30-11) : “Back-to-back” in Chicago, this Friday evening (1:30 am), without Klay Thompson (rest) and probably Andre Iguodala (rest), Otto Porter Jr. (rest) and Gary Payton II (back injury last night) .
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