The series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs has turned into a war of attrition. Both teams are banged up and without key players. The Heat lost Tyler Herro to a broken hand while the Bucks are without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who took a hard fall in Game 1 and hurt his back.
Heading into Game 2, it was the Bucks who had their backs up against the wall. Not only were they possibly playing without their star player, but they were also down 1-0 in the series after a dud performance in Game 1. Antetokounmpo’s status was up in the air hours before the game, as the Bucks waited things out as long as they could.
“We’ll continue to monitor him and expect for him to improve and still continue to be optimistic that soon he’ll be ready to play,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game.”
Ultimately, the Greek Freak was ruled out of the game. Despite his absence, the Bucks put together a total team game, dominating from the opening tip-off. Milwaukee got contributions from up and down their roster, winning the game 138-122 and evening the series up at one win apiece.
“Everyone’s ready,” Brook Lopez said. “Everyone has the right mentality coming into the game — the mentality it takes to be a Milwaukee Buck. There’s no one above anyone else. We’re just out there trying to win.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & Miami Heat Updates
Bobby Portis stepped into the starting lineup for Antetokounmpo and had a great game. He did his best Giannis impersonation, stuffing the stat sheet with 15 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks in 28 minutes.
He was one of seven Bucks to score in double-figures in the game. Lopez led the way with 25, while Jrue Holiday scored 24 points with 11 assists. Off the bench, Pat Connaughton and Joe Ingles both had big games, combining to shoot 11-of-16 from 3-point range and scoring 39 points.
“It takes the whole team,” Khris Middleton said. “I think you saw that tonight. It wasn’t just one guy that carried us. A lot of people expect me or Jrue to take on all the load that Giannis does, but what he does, we can’t match. So we have to do it by committee.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & Miami Heat Updates
The Heat looked like a team that knew they had accomplished the goal they had set for themselves in Game 1. Their intensity, especially on the defensive end, wasn’t the same in Game 2. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra touched on the difference between the two performances.
“They had some good, clean, easy looks in the beginning,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And then once they got on a roll, they were hitting some tough step-backs, stuff at the end of the shot clock. Any time there was kind of a momentum shift, they seemed to knock down a big one.”
Miami was a stellar defensive team during the regular season. If they want to continue competing in this series, that is something they are going to have to get back to when they return to South Beach for Games 3 and 4.
“I would like to be up 2-0, but that’s in the past now,” said Jimmy Butler, who led the Heat with 25 points. “So we’re taking it to the crib, and we’ve got to handle business on our home floor.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & Miami Heat Updates
For the Bucks, Antetokounmpo’s health is at the forefront. They showed that they are capable of performing at a high level when he isn’t on the floor, but they would much rather have him out there. Game 3 is set for Saturday at 7:30 PM ET. That will give him an extra day to rest up and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back on the court for one of the games in Miami.
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