Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. NBA Playoff Basketball is going on!
The Milwaukee Bucks are somehow still alive in the playoffs.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images.)
The Milwaukee Bucks season was on the brink. Giannis Antetokounmpo was prepared to go all out. And he sure was as he was attacking early and often.
And then Antetokounmpo reinjured his ankle.
He shot both foul shots so that he could come back later in the game if he could. He couldn’t. He was scratched out of the game by halftime. It was too bad as Giannis had scored 19 points in 11 minutes.
Khris Middleton, who always goes under the radar, had to take over. With the season on the line, Middleton went wild and scored 21 points in the third quarter.
But of course, Miami had plans to sweep. The Heat went up, 100-92, with under 9 minutes to go. The Heat wouldn’t score again for another 5 minutes of game time.
Still, rookie Tyler Herro had iron balls. He sank a three to give a 107-106 lead with under a minute left. In a potential game-winning play, Donte DiVincenzo got fouled by Goran Dragic with 1.9 seconds left. Some people would say it was a charge. No challenge was made. DiVincenzo split the foul shots but it was enough to extend the season for another five minutes.
In overtime, Middleton was back to take over. Herro was hard enough to hit another three to cut the deficit down to one with 30 seconds left. But Khris warmed it up and countered back with a clutch three. Herro hit another one behind the arc with three seconds left but they had to play the foul game with little time remaining. Middleton hit both foul shots and a desperate heave by Miami to get it to the frontcourt gave the Bucks another game to fight.
Khris Middleton went for 36-8-8. He scored 30 after halftime and 9 in the extra period. He showed why he was always the secondary scorer to Giannis. Always underappreciated by everyone outside the Bucks and their fan base, the sharpshooting Middleton was immense in helping Milwaukee avoid the sweep.
But the road is still calamitous. Remember that no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. The Bucks still have to win three more games in a row. And they might have to do it without Giannis in Game 5. But, hey, they won this without Giannis in Game 4 so why can’t they do it again, right?
It was clear that Miami didn’t play their game like they did in the previous three, though, so they’re going to come back with a vengeance. Miami has suffered their first loss in the postseason but they’ve always managed to bounce back all year.
All we know is this: Milwaukee is not done yet. At least, for now.
Bullet Passes
The Lakers got off to a 21-point lead as Markieff Morris sank threes and Rajon Rondo infuriated the Rockets on both sides of the court and the Laker fan base in general. The Rockets came back with a 41-point third quarter but they went cold in the fourth and the Lakers took advantage.
The Rockets will live and die with Russell Westbrook‘s performance. Russ had 10 points and 13 boards. But he also went 1 for 7 from three and had 7 turnovers. At times, I said he was playing like it was 6th grade recess.
Now I just thought of playing basketball in the 110-degree heat. Because it was SCORCHING over here in Southern California on Sunday.
WHAT IS THIS, MAN?! HE’S 35 YEARS OLD.
Bron how old now pic.twitter.com/nyMb0vPZ9j
— CJ Fogler #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) September 7, 2020
Good grief.
And he’s still clutch!
LEBRON JAMES WITH A KOBE FADEAWAY CALLS GAME. #LakeShow x #OneMission #WholeNewGame #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Fj2LmZAtdf
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) September 7, 2020
LeBron is still fantastic, man.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
Game 4: #1 MIL 118 vs #5 MIA 115 (OT) (MIA leads series, 3-1)
Game 2: #1 LAL 117 vs #4 HOU 109 (Series is tied, 1-1)
Watch This Play
Speaking of LeBron, look at him pump this one on the way to the rim.
Bron catching hang time to start the fourth!
(📺: ABC) pic.twitter.com/G1sI3cnhH8
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 7, 2020
Still staving off Father Time.
Everyone stay safe at the Bubble!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.