By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The no. 1 seed from the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee Bucks, is out in the first round of the NBA playoffs, as Miami Heat won 128-126 in overtime of Game 5 and advanced to the Eastern semifinals with a 4-1 series victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 38 points and 20 rebounds but shot 10-23 from the free-throw line. Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 42 points and eight boards as Miami became the first team to knock out the first-seeded side in the opening playoffs round since 2012.
The team from Florida trailed by two points with 2,1 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, and Jimmy Butler took matters into his own hands and scored an insane game-tying basket in the final moments.
“We’ve practiced variations of that play with a bunch of different guys,” Spoelstra said about final play in regulations. “I was going to do a different version of it. He just said, ‘No, let me be that guy.’ I just said, ‘OK, but what if we can’t get that pass.’ He said, ‘I’ll get it. Don’t worry about it.’”
In added five minutes, the Bucks had a chance to win or tie the game with the last possession but couldn’t even make the shot as time ran out on Grayson Allen, who attempted to make a layup.
Miami Heat will face New York Knicks, who previously eliminated Cleveland Cavaliers with a 106-95 win on the road, also in Game 5.
The Nicks stunned the Cavs in five games, as Jalen Brunson led the way. Former Dallas Mavericks playmaker scored 23 points in the crucial win, as the German Isaiah Hartenstein got just one point, with two rebounds and an assist.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Turkish national team member Cedi Osman finished the season with six points and one rebound and assist.
Sacramento Kings couldn’t defend its home court in Game 5, as Golden State Warriors took the brake with a 116-123 win to turn around the score in the series 3-2.
Steph Curry once again led the way with 31 points and eight assists, as defending champions will have a chance to advance at home in Game 6.
De’Aaron Fox played through a finger injury and almost had a triple-double with 24 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, while Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double with 21 points and ten boards.
Memphis Grizzlies survived at home after a 116-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers to force Game 6 of the first-round series.
Desmond Bane stepped up with 33 points and ten rebounds, while Santi Aldama recorded seven points, five rebounds, and three assists for the winning side.
Anthony Davis led the way for the Lakers with 31 points and 19 rebounds, while the sole European player in the LA team, Dennis Schroder, went scoreless in 19 minutes, with one assist and a rebound.
NBA results:
Cleveland Cavs – NY Knicks 95-106 (Osman 6p – Hartensten 1p) /1-4 in the series/
Memphis Grizzlies – LA Lakers 116-99 (Aldama 7p) /2-3 in the series/
Milwaukee Bucks – Miami Heat 126-128 OT (Giannis 38p, 20r) /1-4 in the series/
Sacramento Kings – Golden State Warriors 116-123 (Sabonis 21p, 10r) /2-3 in the series/