The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics are playing one of the more entertaining playoff series in a while. On Wednesday night, the series might have finally tipped heavily in favor of the Bucks. Milwaukee managed to erase a 13-point deficit in the final nine minutes and change to defeat the Celtics, 110-107 in Boston.
The Celtics led for the majority of the game. Yet, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis all played key roles in the comeback. The Celtics' Marcus Smart is being looked at like the goat, and not the good kind.
With under two minutes remaining, Bucks' stars Antetokounmpo and Holiday hit back-to-back triples to tie the game at 105. Following a couple Jayson Tatum free throws, Giannis earned a trip to the line to tie it up. He hit the first but missed the second. Smart had his hands on the rebound but let it slip away and Portis hit a put back for the lead with 11 seconds left.
Following a Boston timeout, Smart took the inbounds pass and drove to the rim. He was rejected by Holiday, who then threw the ball off Smart and out of bounds. After two Connaughton free throws, Smart then had it stolen by Holiday to end the game.
It was certainly an awful final minute for the Celtics guard. To that point, you could argue that Smart was the best player on the court for Boston all night. But that doesn't stop people online from trolling him.
Marcus Smart's reaction to Jrue Holiday's strip actually deserves this so I'm sorry for going back in meme history pic.twitter.com/oeUZl3Qz6Q
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) May 12, 2022
Marcus Smart with one of the worst 20 second stretches in basketball.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) May 12, 2022
Jrue Holiday after back-to-back stops against Marcus Smart pic.twitter.com/up3catK6u0
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) May 12, 2022
Marcus Smart has to give his trophy to Jrue Holiday now. That was incredible defense.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) May 12, 2022
Even FS1 analyst Skip Bayless joined in on the fun.
MARCUS SMART, EARLY STAR OF THIS GAME, WAS INVOLVED IN THREE STRAIGHT LATE BLUNDERS – THE BLOWN REBOUND, THE INDECISIVE DRIVING SHOT THAT HOLIDAY EASILY BLOCKED, THE CARELESS DRIBBLE THAT HOLIDAY STOLE. NOT SMART.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 12, 2022
Jrue Holiday completely stuffs Marcus Smart with game-ending block, steal on Celtics DPOY for come-from-behind Bucks win in Game 5.https://t.co/ecgLDiRJss
— ClutchPoints NBA (@ClutchPointsNBA) May 12, 2022
After the loss, Smart spoke about the block from the Bucks savior. He claimed the play was designed for Jayson Tatum but saw the rest of his teammates standing around. So he went to the basket. Holiday came off his man and made a great play.
Tatum acknowledged after the game that he was supposed to come off a pin down from Al Horford to get the ball. There was supposedly a miscommunication, leaving Smart to take it himself.
The irony of the whole situation is that Smart won Defensive Player of the Year. But many people have been saying for years, myself included, that Holiday is the best defensive guard in the NBA, if not best defensive player. There is no bias there either, I am a die-hard Celtics fan.
But Milwaukee earned this victory. Every loose ball seemed to go the Bucks way. Milwaukee had an astounding 17 offensive rebounds, to just five for Boston.
The Bucks will look to close out the Celtics at home in Game 6.
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