Boston Celtics win Milwaukee Bucks 96-89
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs Kyrie Irving
Milwaukee Bucks – Boston Celtics
Uncle Drew vs. The Greek Freak
For the keep-your-eyes-on franchise due to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s big leaps toward superstar status, rapidly has become enchanted even with its present Milwaukee Bucks’ “Return to the MECCA” basketball game against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 26 was a party from the past, the uber Throwback Thursday.
As part of the Bucks’ celebration of their 50th anniversary, the Bucks played a 2017-18 NBA basketball game in the historic MECCA building, on a special ripoff of the notorious colorful floor, rocking a retro classic uniforms edition and facing a good old rival, took us back to the ’70s and ’80s, when MECCA (the Milwaukee Exposition Convention Center and Arena) was home for Milwaukee Bucks from 1968 to 1988 and maybe provided us with the best basketball this city of Milwaukee has ever seen – probably till now.
On Thursday @ UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, Milwaukee did not play pretty well and lost 96-89. The offense was not that good, with too much isolation play and little ball movement. Defense was not fast on the perimeter and overpowered in. Giannis Antetokounmpo just very good, not awesome as we are used while he disappeared a bit down the game. All in all the game was not the best that could with zealous referees and a lack of run-and-gun flow.
Eight days ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks bested the Boston Celtics at TD Garden behind 37 points from the Greek Freak.
But on Thursday, it was Kyrie Irving and Al Horford who led the way as the Celtics exacted their revenge with a 96-89 win at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Irving finished with 24 points and seven assists, and he worked brilliantly in tandem with Horford—who dropped a team-high 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three.
Irving was particularly electric, and it all started with his prolific package of dribble-drive moves.
Although he was limited to 17 points on 25 shots in the teams’ last meeting, Irving showed no hesitation against Milwaukee’s long and strong defenders—Antetokounmpo included—as he attacked the Bucks.
Irving also broke out crossovers and spin moves to keep the Celtics afloat along with Horford combined to make 11 of the Celtics’ 14 first-half fg.
Kyrie collapsed the Bucks defense and kicked out to Horford, that helped the Celtics stay ahead.
Besides the two of them, Celtics offense was rather mediocre.
Jayson Tatum (12 pts.) and Aron Baynes (12 pts.) were the only other Boston scorers who finished in double-figures, and no player outside of Irving and Horford made more than three shots.
The Bucks were more balanced, as three of their 5 starters had at least 15 pts but 17 turnovers and a 47-37 rebounds in favor of the Celtics ultimately hindered their ability to keep their pace.
True to form, though, Antetokounmpo stuffed the stat sheet with a game-high 28 points (10-of-21 shooting), 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Antetokounmpo also nearly added one snatched soul to his final line after he tried to uncork a Dunk of the Year candidate on Baynes head:
But despite Antetokounmpo’s best efforts to intimidate Boston’s frontcourt, the Celtics refused to back down.
Head coach Brad Stevens tried to make the Greek Freak scrap for every point, and the strategy proved successful as Horford, Semi Ojeleye and the rest of the Celtics’ burly defenders stood tall below the free-throw line.
On Sunday, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks will concentrate as they ll try to get back on the winning streak versus the Atlanta Hawks.
The Celtics, will go on with their road journey on Saturday when they play against Miami Heat @ American Airlines Arena.
