The Milwaukee Bucks opened up the home-turf games in their second-round series against the Boston Celtics with an unbelievable win. Boston took them down to the wire despite a dominant performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo. In what was the first game of this NBA playoff matchup that was actually close, the Bucks won 103-101 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Antetokounmpo demolished the Celtics, tallying 42 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two blocks on 16-30 shooting. Jrue Holiday scored 25 points on 11-30 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. The Bucks shot just 40.4 percent from the field as a team but held Boston to 36.8 percent shooting.
Jaylen Brown (27 points, 12 rebounds and four assists) and Al Horford (22 points, 16 rebounds, five assists) led the way for the Celtics while Jayson Tatum had an abysmal performance. He scored just 10 points on 4-19 shooting.
Game 3 was a great win for the Bucks. There are several major takeaways from the thrilling victory, though, with a holistic outlook, it's clear that this series is far from over for Milwaukee.
3 Bucks overreactions to thrilling Game 3 win over Celtics
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo can do it all by himself
Although Antetokounmpo was absolutely fantastic, the Bucks have to realize that they can't rely solely on their superstar. Consider that he had 42 points, Tatum only had 10 and the Celtics still took the Bucks down to the very end. With one fortunate tip-in from Boston, the game goes to overtime. If Tatum is his usual self — or even just decent — Milwaukee may not have gotten the victory.
Just by watching Antetokounmpo, though, he looked like a player that can do whatever his team needs to win. He ate the Celtics up as he drove to the rim and had just three turnovers to go along with his eight dimes. It was a true masterclass.
Giannis long steps through the Celtics defense and scores! pic.twitter.com/NnSkkj3qLs
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 7, 2022
Antetokounmpo can carry the Bucks but he can't bear the entire weight. Holiday can't shoot 11-30 again. His 2-9 shooting in the fourth quarter helped the Celtics get back into it. Grayson Allen and Bobby Portis have to get going, too.
Of course, the argument can be made that if the Bucks had more reliable scoring around Antetokounmpo, this game would not have been close. Although this is true, Tatum has shown to be much more reliable and scores at a much higher volume than any of the Milwaukee reserves.
2. The Bucks showed that Jayson Tatum is not that guy
The biggest overreaction possible from this game is that Tatum is a fake superstar. Every player has bad, even undoubtedly terrible, games. Tatum was putrid in Game 3, no doubt about it. This shouldn't dismiss his incredible talent.
Just one round ago, Tatum was the best player in a series with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. He has firmly established himself as a marvelous scorer and defender. His playmaking is starting to come around, too. He may not be on Antetokounmpo's level, but he is not too far behind.
The last time Tatum had a stinker in the playoffs was in the first round last year in Game 2 against the Brooklyn Nets, when he scored nine points. He followed it up with a 50-point, seven-assist, six-rebound performance. Letting one bad performance invalidate his talent will come back to bite the Bucks. They still need to guard him just as tightly, if not tighter, than they have in previous games.
1. The Bucks are in the perfect position to win the series
Milwaukee's 2-1 lead favors them to win the series and advance in the NBA playoffs. However, the series still has plenty of basketball left. Game 4 will be a hugely important and competitive contest.
This Celtics team is not one to throw in the towel or do the same old thing and hope that it works. They showed in Game 2 that they can shut Antetokounmpo down. Although the Bucks have their home crowd behind them, the challenge ahead is daunting.
The Bucks have to keep up their great defense, get their perimeter shooters going and stand firm in the final quarter. Another Giannis Antetokounmpo masterclass, along with another stout defensive effort against Jayson Tatum, will be needed as Milwaukee looks to go up 3-1 in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
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