Bucks win without Giannis against Heat, as Jrue Holiday registers double-double in 122-138 win

The Milwaukee Bucks have finally won their first playoff game, outgunning the Miami Heat without their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, in their first-round series matchup of the NBA postseason.

Center Brook Lopez shot lights out from the field, converting 12 of his 17 shots (70.5 percent), ending Wednesday night’s game with 25 points in the 122-138 home win. 

Jrue Holiday was the team’s second top-scorer with 24 points. The 32-year-old Bucks point guard also had 11 assists, earning himself a memorable double-double. 

For Miami, it was a night full of struggles. Jimmy Butler was the only player on the Heat to finish with 20+ points. The 33-year-old had 25 points on 8-12 overall shooting (66 percent). 

Center Bam Adebayo came second with 18 points, while Victor Oladipo and Cody Martin made an impact off the bench, scoring 15 points each to lower the deficit for Miami. The Heat struggled in the second quarter, scoring only 27 points compared to Milwaukee’s 46. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo, 28, sat out of Game 2 for the Bucks and is day-to-day in his recovery 

The Bucks went 25-of049 on 3-point attempts to tie the NBA record for 3-point baskets in a postseason game. Pat Connaughton, who didn’t even play in Game 1, added a playoff career-high 22 points while going 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Antetokounmpo remained out for Milwaukee after leaving the Bucks’ 130-117 Game 1 loss early in the second quarter with a bruised lower back. The two-time MVP suffered the injury on a hard fall after getting fouled late in the first period during a drive to the basket.

‘We´ll continue to monitor him and expect for him to improve and still continue to be optimistic that soon he’ll be ready to play,’ Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game.

The Bucks were also missing guard Wesley Matthews, who had strained his right calf in Game 1. The Heat didn’t have Tyler Herro, who broke his right hand in Game 1 and likely won’t return this season unless Miami reaches the NBA Finals.

For at least one night, the Bucks didn’t miss Antetokounmpo at all as they capitalized on a dramatic turnaround in 3-point shooting. In Game 1, the Bucks went 11-of-45 on 3-point attempts while the Heat were 15 of 25. This time, the Bucks made more than half their 3-point shots in a record-tying performance. 

Joe Ingles scored 17 points for the Bucks and was 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Khris Middleton and Grayson Allen added 16 points apiece. Bobby Portis had 13 points and 15 rebounds. 

The Heat will turn their attention to making the most out of home court advantage, hosting the Bucks in Game 3 on Saturday. 

The Bucks initially thrived by relying on the same formula they used the last time they played a home postseason game without Antetokounmpo. They gave the ball to Lopez early and often.

Lopez, who scored just 10 points in Game 1, had 14 by the end of the first quarter Wednesday. During Milwaukee´s 2021 title run, Lopez had scored a playoff career-high 34 points to help the Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-112 in Game 5 of the East finals while Antetokounmpo was out with a hyperextended left knee.

The success of Lopez inside opened things up for everyone on the perimeter.

Connaughton sank a 3-pointer that capped an 11-0 run to put Milwaukee ahead 62-41 with 5:29 left in the second quarter. Butler ended that spurt by making two free throws, but the Bucks scored the next 13 points – including seven from Ingles – to grab a 32-point lead.

The Bucks led by as many as 36 in the third quarter. The Heat outscored the Bucks 37-20 in the fourth quarter to make the final score somewhat respectable.