Philadelphia March 30th (US): Giannis Antikonmo’s game isn’t funny. his jokes? Well, they could use some work.
Antetokounmpo scored 40 points and picked up a crucial block from Joel Embiid in the final seconds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 118-116 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night in a game between two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams, the Associated Press reported. .
Chris Middleton added 22 points and a Gro Holiday 18 for the Bucks, who finished first in the East during a half idle game in Miami.
Milwaukee held onto a two-point lead when Antetokounmpo hit the ball off Embiid with 1.6 seconds left.
“An amazing block,” said 76ers coach Doc Rivers.
“It’s just a private building,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
It was a great play.
Despite this, Antetokounmpo seemed more eager to test his material than reading the post-match book, “Dad Jokes,” and opened his post-match press conference like this:
Q: What do you call a cow on the ground?
A: ground beef
Antetokounmo seemed amused at the joke, which only attracted chuckles from the reporters. If it wasn’t an aeroball, it definitely looked like it got it wrong.
Nevertheless, his game continued to get great reviews.
“We depend on him to make great plays,” Middleton said. “We don’t expect him to make that block, but when he does, we’re not surprised.”
Said Holiday, “Giannis is just Giannis. Put in a great show and save the game.”
James Harden scored 32 points and nine rebounds for the 76th ball, and Embiid recovered from a slow start and finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Philadelphia fell 1½ behind the Heat in the conference.
“The pair got it wrong defensively and they made us pay for it,” Harden said.
Antetokounmpo added 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks to the NBA champion Bucks.
The Bucks scored 13 of their first 17 points from the fourth, ahead of the Middleton 3-pointer who made it 94-93 with nine minutes to play. The match remained tight the rest of the way, with neither team advancing by more than six points.
Every time it looked as if Milwaukee was going to quit, 76 people answered with a 3 to stay close. Embiid pulled 3 pointers with 49.8 seconds remaining from Philadelphia through 117-116. After Brooke Lopez’s spin, Philadelphia had a chance to advance, but Embiid missed 14 feet after the timeout.
Antetokounmpo fouled in the possession that followed and he made his first two free throws to give the Bucks a 118-116 lead with 13.2 seconds to play. After another 76 second timeout, a step back was 3 long. Embiid grabbed the rebound and looked ready to connect it with an easy shot, but was blocked by Antetokounmpo. Officials originally ruled the matter was goalkeeper, and tied the score, but it was overturned after a video review.
“Just let my instincts play,” said Antetokonmo. “I just tried to jump as high as I could and do a play.”
The 76ers dominated the jump ball that followed but ran out of time to shoot.
The main points of the first half
Antetokounmpo and Harden traded finishing touches in the first half, with the Bucks star and MVP twice dunking Embiid with his left hand late in the first quarter before a resounding two-handed jam occurred late in the second half. Harden scored over Antetokounmpo by step back 3 with 35.7 seconds remaining in the first half and paired up with Matisse Thybulle with a beautiful three-quarter court pass to put Thybulle in an easy position.
heavyweight fight
The game instigated a pair of teams that have their eyes set on the NBA title. The Bucks broke a long title drought last season, claiming their second title after their first win in 1971. Philadelphia last won the championship in 1983, and the 76ers added Harden in the trade deadline to boost their chances of winning a fourth title for the franchise.
Milwaukee has been one of the best teams in the NBA since the All-Star break, going 11-4 as it prepares for another stage after the season ends. Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said he doesn’t hear enough money when the NBA title contenders are mentioned.
“I hear everyone but Milwaukee,” Rivers said. “They were not so lucky to win.”
Hint
Bucks: Jrue Holiday (left ankle soreness) and Serge Ibaca (non-COVID illness) are back after both sat on Saturday in a 127-102 loss in Memphis. … Antetokounmpo is 40 points off Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s passing as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. Antetokounmpo scored 14,172 points in his career.
76ers: Former Sixer and Hall of Famer Bobby Jones rang the ceremonial Liberty Bell before the competition. …Conor Castellani, a 29-year-old cheerleader from Lynnwood, New Jersey, won the 76ers’ season tickets for next season with his shot in the middle of the field during the first-half timeout. … Danny Green was rated blunder 1 on Antetokounmpo 1:19 in fourth place.
next one:
Bucks: In Brooklyn on Thursday night.
76ers: In Detroit on Thursday night.