Bucks begin title defense with 127-104 victory over Nets
MILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks didn't let the celebration of the franchise's first NBA championship in half a century distract them as they opened their title defense.
In his first game since scoring 50 points in a title-clinching Game 6 NBA Finals victory over the Phoenix Suns, Antetokounmpo had 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Bucks to a 127-104 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
''We're part of history,'' Antetokounmpo said. ''I'm excited. But now it's over with. We've got to focus on building good habits, keep moving forward and keep playing good basketball and hopefully we can repeat this again this year, next year and all the years that we're going to be here down the road.''
Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton each added 20 points to help the Bucks withstand the loss of Jrue Holiday, who sat out the second half with a bruised right heel after scoring 12 points. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said MRI results on Holiday were encouraging.
Kevin Durant led the Nets with 32 points and 11 rebounds. Patty Mills scored 21 points and shot 7 of 7 from 3-point range. James Harden added 20 points.
''We weren't very good,'' Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said. ''If you're not playing at a high level against the champs, you're not going to win.''
The Nets were missing star guard Kyrie Irving, who isn't with the team due to his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
A New York mandate requires professional athletes on local teams to be vaccinated to practice or play in public venues. Rather than using Irving exclusively in road games, the Nets decided he wouldn't play or practice with them at all until he could be a full participant.
After receiving their rings, raising a banner and watching a highlight video of their first NBA championship since 1971, the Bucks defeated the team that nearly eliminated them in the second round of the playoffs. Antetokounmpo acknowledged that he teared up a little bit during the pregame ceremony.
''When they were playing those videos, you cannot help yourself but get emotional,'' Antetokounmpo said. ''Looking back to the journey, where we started from and where we are right now.''
Milwaukee rallied from a 2-0 deficit and won Game 7 at Brooklyn in overtime after Durant's foot barely crept across the 3-point arc in the final seconds of regulation, turning a potential series-winning 3-pointer into a game-tying 2-point basket.
The Bucks went on a 21-4 run in the first quarter to extend a 10-8 advantage to 31-12. They got the lead back up to 19 again in the second quarter and were ahead 66-59 at halftime. The lead never dropped below seven the rest of the way.
Milwaukee outrebounded Brooklyn 54-44 and took 21 more shots than the Nets.
''We were climbing uphill all game,'' Durant said.
Milwaukee got 15 points from Jordan Nwora and 10 from Grayson Allen.
FANCY RINGS
Milwaukee's championship rings include the messages ''Fear The Deer'' and ''Bucks In 6.'' The latter slogan has served as a rallying cry among fans ever since former Bucks guard Brandon Jennings used those words while incorrectly predicting the outcome of Milwaukee's 2013 first-round series with the eventual NBA champion Miami Heat.
Jennings and former Bucks guard Michael Redd were both in the crowd.
The rings, designed by Jason of Beverly Hills, have 360 diamonds on the top to represent the Bucks' total wins under current ownership. There are 16 emerald-shape diamonds on each side, symbolizing their 16 playoff wins last season and their 16 division titles in franchise history.
''My first thought as soon as it was handed to me is this is the biggest ring I've ever seen in life, and there's a lot of diamonds in it,'' Nwora said.
Herb Kohl, the 86-year-old former U.S. senator who owned the Bucks from 1985-2014, also got a ring and received a standing ovation when he was announced.
TIP-INS
Nets: Mills had a brilliant Brooklyn debut after spending the last 10 seasons in San Antonio, but the Nets didn't get much else from their bench. Brooklyn's other reserves combined for just four points.
Bucks: Milwaukee was missing guard Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) and forwards Bobby Portis (hamstring) and Semi Ojeleye (calf). Budenholzer didn't have an estimate on when any of the three might make their season debut but said that Portis and Ojeleye will play before DiVincenzo, who tore a ligament in his left ankle during last season's playoffs.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Philadelphia on Friday.
Bucks: At Miami on Thursday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nic Claxton vs. Brook Lopez (Giannis Antetokounmpo gains possession) | |||
11:42 | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | |||
11:39 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
11:27 | Giannis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | |||
11:27 | Nic Claxton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:27 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
11:27 | Nic Claxton misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
11:25 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
11:13 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses three point jump shot | |||
11:10 | Brook Lopez offensive rebound | |||
11:01 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point jump shot | |||
10:59 | Blake Griffin defensive rebound | |||
10:47 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop dunk (James Harden assists) | 2-0 | |
10:31 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point hook shot | |||
10:29 | Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | |||
10:28 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point putback layup | 2-2 | |
10:16 | James Harden misses three point step back jump shot | |||
10:12 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
10:03 | +3 | Brook Lopez makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 2-5 | |
9:42 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point turnaround jump shot (James Harden assists) | 4-5 | |
9:30 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point layup | |||
9:28 | Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | |||
9:30 | James Harden blocks Giannis Antetokounmpo's two point putback layup | |||
9:27 | Brook Lopez offensive rebound | |||
9:28 | Brook Lopez misses two point hook shot | |||
9:17 | Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | |||
9:16 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point putback layup | |||
9:25 | Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | |||
9:10 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point putback layup | 4-7 | |
8:58 | Joe Harris misses two point jump shot | |||
8:55 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
8:52 | +3 | Khris Middleton makes three point jump shot | 4-10 | |
8:29 | Brook Lopez shooting foul (Blake Griffin draws the foul) | |||
8:29 | +1 | Blake Griffin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-10 | |
8:29 | +1 | Blake Griffin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-10 | |
8:14 | Khris Middleton misses three point jump shot | |||
8:12 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
8:05 | Brook Lopez personal foul (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | |||
7:49 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point driving layup | 8-10 | |
7:33 | +3 | Jrue Holiday makes three point jump shot (Khris Middleton assists) | 8-13 | |
7:16 | James Harden misses three point step back jump shot | |||
7:14 | Pat Connaughton defensive rebound | |||
7:14 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point dunk (Khris Middleton assists) | 8-15 | |
7:14 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
7:14 | James Harden shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
7:14 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
7:11 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
7:00 | Kevin Durant misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
6:57 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | +3 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes three point jump shot | 8-18 | |
6:30 | Giannis Antetokounmpo blocks Nic Claxton's two point dunk | |||
6:26 | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | |||
6:19 | +3 | Pat Connaughton makes three point jump shot (Khris Middleton assists) | 8-21 | |
6:03 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop layup (Kevin Durant assists) | 10-21 | |
5:52 | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | |||
5:49 | Blake Griffin defensive rebound | |||
5:36 | +2 | James Harden makes two point driving layup | 12-21 | |
5:27 | Pat Connaughton misses three point jump shot | |||
5:23 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
5:20 | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | |||
5:14 | Blake Griffin offensive rebound | |||
5:14 | Blake Griffin misses two point putback dunk | |||
5:13 | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | |||
5:13 | Nic Claxton shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
5:13 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-22 | |
5:13 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-23 | |
5:00 | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | |||
4:58 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
4:53 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point floating jump shot | 12-25 | |
4:34 | LaMarcus Aldridge misses two point hook shot | |||
4:32 | Paul Millsap offensive rebound | |||
4:30 | Jevon Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
4:27 | George Hill defensive rebound | |||
4:24 | Paul Millsap blocks Giannis Antetokounmpo's two point driving layup | |||
4:24 | Nets defensive rebound | |||
4:09 | LaMarcus Aldridge offensive foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | |||
4:09 | LaMarcus Aldridge turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:55 | +3 | Pat Connaughton makes three point jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists) | 12-28 | |
3:37 | Kevin Durant misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
3:34 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
3:22 | +3 | Jrue Holiday makes three point jump shot (George Hill assists) | 12-31 | |
3:13 | +3 | Patty Mills makes three point jump shot | 15-31 | |
3:04 | Bucks 60 second timeout | |||
2:53 | +2 | Pat Connaughton makes two point dunk (George Hill assists) | 15-33 | |
2:40 | Jordan Nwora shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
2:40 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-33 | |
2:40 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-33 | |
2:25 | LaMarcus Aldridge blocks Brook Lopez's two point jump shot | |||
2:21 | Joe Harris defensive rebound | |||
2:18 | +3 | Patty Mills makes three point jump shot (Joe Harris assists) | 20-33 | |
2:00 | +2 | Thanasis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving hook shot | 20-35 | |
1:51 | LaMarcus Aldridge misses two point jump shot | |||
1:48 | Thanasis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
1:38 | Jordan Nwora misses two point jump shot | |||
1:35 | LaMarcus Aldridge defensive rebound | |||
1:14 | Nets turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
1:01 | George Hill misses three point jump shot | |||
0:56 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | |||
0:52 | +3 | Patty Mills makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 23-35 | |
0:38 | Patty Mills blocks Brook Lopez's two point turnaround jump shot | |||
0:34 | George Hill offensive rebound | |||
0:32 | Pat Connaughton misses three point jump shot | |||
0:30 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | |||
0:30 | Paul Millsap turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Nwora steals) | |||
0:30 | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point layup | 23-37 | |
0:10 | +2 | James Harden makes two point floating jump shot | 25-37 | |
0:00 | Pat Connaughton misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | +3 | James Harden makes three point step back jump shot | 28-37 | |
11:28 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point step back jump shot | 28-39 | |
11:20 | James Harden turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
11:04 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point jump shot | |||
11:01 | Joe Harris defensive rebound | |||
10:55 | +3 | Patty Mills makes three point jump shot (James Johnson assists) | 31-39 | |
10:36 | Jordan Nwora misses three point step back jump shot | |||
10:35 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
10:35 | Joe Harris personal foul (Loose ball) (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
10:19 | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | |||
10:19 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
10:20 | Jordan Nwora personal foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
10:07 | +3 | James Harden makes three point step back jump shot | 34-39 | |
9:55 | +3 | Jordan Nwora makes three point jump shot (Sandro Mamukelashvili assists) | 34-42 | |
9:36 | Joe Harris misses two point driving layup | |||
9:37 | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | |||
9:29 | James Harden blocks Sandro Mamukelashvili's two point layup | |||
9:29 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
9:25 | Nic Claxton personal foul (Away from play) (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
9:25 | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 34-43 | |
9:20 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving layup | 34-45 | |
9:06 | Joe Harris misses three point jump shot | |||
9:03 | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | |||
8:52 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving layup (Jordan Nwora assists) | 34-47 | |
8:38 | +3 | James Harden makes three point step back jump shot | 37-47 | |
8:22 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
8:11 | Joe Harris turnover (bad pass) (Jrue Holiday steals) | |||
8:04 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 37-50 | |
7:40 | James Harden misses three point step back jump shot | |||
7:38 | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | |||
7:31 | Jordan Nwora misses three point step back jump shot | |||
7:29 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
7:14 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:12 | Jrue Holiday offensive rebound | |||
7:10 | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | |||
7:07 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
7:07 | James Harden personal foul (Loose ball) (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
6:55 | +3 | Brook Lopez makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 37-53 | |
6:26 | James Harden misses two point floating jump shot | |||
6:23 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
6:18 | Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot | |||
6:14 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
6:04 | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | |||
6:01 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
5:50 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point jump shot | 37-55 | |
5:26 | +3 | Patty Mills makes three point jump shot (Joe Harris assists) | 40-55 | |
5:26 | +3 | Patty Mills makes three point jump shot (Joe Harris assists) | 40-55 | |
5:12 | LaMarcus Aldridge flagrant 1 (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | |||
5:12 | +1 | Khris Middleton makes flagrant free throw 1 of 3 | 40-56 | |
5:12 |