The dream of the Milwaukee Bucks is over! The Boston Celtics make a dominant appearance in the second half and win game 7 with 112:96 (BOXSCORE). Terry Rozier and Al Horford play it big, Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t get started.
Without any changes compared to game 6, both teams started into the all-important game in the TD Garden in Boston. The fans made the home Celtics from the beginning steam, which apparently also transferred to the game: The hosts got the better start, raged in the opponent’s zone and closed their own basket at the same time.
So Boston started a 15:0 run in the middle of the first round, with which Head Coach Brad Stevens’ team could stand out a bit. In this phase the Celts were particularly convincing with their strong defense, forcing some turnovers on the one hand and enormously difficult throws from the Bucks on the other. Milwaukee made it to 3 Air-Balls in the first section alone.
But after the first twelve minutes the Bucks got better into the party, thanks to Eric Bledsoe. The Point Guard responded to Celtics fans'”Who’s Bledsoe?” calls – an allusion to a smaller beef with Terry Rozier at the beginning of the series – with some quick counters at the beginning of the second section.
Although Milwaukee came close again (32:30 for Boston) but after both Bledsoe and Giannis Antetokounmpo had to play three fouls each, Boston took command again. The Celtics finally went into the cabin with a 50:42 lead, but also had to cope with the loss of the previously strong Jaylen Brown (thigh problems).
The Shooting Guard did not return to the floor against his own will, but others jumped into the breach. Horford continued his dominance in the zone after the break, while Marcus Morris, Jayson Tatum and Rozier also set the tone. With two triples in a row from Morris and Tatum, Boston finished the third leg down to 16 points (81:65).
In the final section Bledsoe and Antetokounmpo tried everything again to shorten the gap. But the Bucks couldn’t get closer than 12 points. Boston always found an appropriate answer, mostly in the person of Rozier. The Point Guard was suddenly hot and sunk two threes in a row in the middle of the fourth round. Boston were now 101:82 in front – the decision.
The Greek Freak finished the game after a mixed start with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Bledsoe impressed with 23 points (9/12 FG), while Khris Middleton also attracted attention in the fourth quarter (32 points, 5/9 trio). Overall, however, there was a lack of support from the Supporting Cast on this evening.
The Celtics, on the other hand, delivered away through the bank, were quite different. Rozier (26 points, 10/16 FG, 9 assists) and Horford (26 points, 13/17 FG, 8 rebounds) were particularly strong. But Jayson Tatum with 20 points or Morris (10) and Aron Baynes (8 and 7) also showed strong performances.
So while Milwaukee lost their ninth play-off series in a row, the Celtics are in the next round, where they will face the Philadelphia 76ers. Game 1 takes place in the night from Monday to Tuesday.
Boston Celtics – Milwaukee Bucks 112:96, Series 4:3 (BOXSCORE)
Terry Rozier. Difficult decision between Rozier and Horford. Although the centre was an important factor on both sides of the court right from the start, the point guard left his mark on the game, especially in the final section. In the fourth quarter alone, Rozier scored 12 points, leading the Celtics to a decisive run.
The supporting cast of the Bucks. The home advantage was an important factor in the complete series. No team could win a game in a different hall – this was mainly due to the role players, who are known to have more difficulties away from home than in front of their own audience. That was also the case in game 7. The Bucks’ bank scored just 12 points (Boston: 33). Jabari Parker (-24) and Matthew Dellavedova (-21) also had by far the worst plus/minus rating.
For long stretches of the game there was little to nothing to see from the Greek Freak. This was mainly due to Semi Ojeleye, who did a very strong job against Antetokounmpo in one-on-one. Head Coach Stevens also sent a number of situations to make life even more difficult for the superstar of the Bucks – with success. After 24 minutes Giannis had only 7 points in his account.