Like the Celtics in Game 6, the Bucks tried to take the best from the start to try to calm a TD Garden on the lookout for the slightest spark. Giannis Antetokounmpo responded from the start by scoring the first minutes of the match with his five assists and a 3-point basket (6-13).
To counter the rise in temperature of the Brown-Tatum tandem, Milwaukee relied on his good defense and his transition game to turn to +10 (14-24) while Marcus Smart scared everyone with a big fall after contact with the « Greek Freak ».
The point guard and the rest of the C’s quickly came to their senses. Payton Pritchard restarted the machine with a 3-point shot, and the Brown-Tatum duo again did what was necessary to bring Boston down to -6 at the end of the first act (20-26), then to equalize before seeing Al Horford capsize the crowd with a big dunk (32-30).
The fight was on, and the two teams went blow for blow until the break, but Marcus Smart offered a five-point advantage to his side after a tap dunk and a mischievous blow in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo rewarded with three shots at the last second (48-43).
Like Giannis Antetoknounmpo at the start of the game, Jayson Tatum in turn showed off his « playmaker » qualities after returning from the locker room, with two golden services for Grant Williams’ 3-pointers and Jaylen Brown, a 3- points from him and a lobbed pass for Jaylen Brown’s 2+1.
The sequence allowed the locals to have a comfortable lead for the first time in the match (61-49). Despite the fourth personal foul collected in stride by Jayson Tatum, synonymous with a premature return to the bench, Boston held on thanks to its X factor of the evening, Grant Williams, author of a dunk and two 3-point baskets which widened the gap (76-60).
At +15 to 12 minutes from the issue (79-64), the Celtics did not miss the opportunity to kill the match, relying this time on the Pritchard-Tatum-Williams trio to quickly put an end to the suspense (87-68). Payton Pritchard hit the nail on the head with two 3-point missiles, and TD Garden could savor their victory for six long minutes, marked by a final salvo of 3-pointers from the Smart-Fitts-Nesmith trio.
Winners 101-89, the C’s will see the conference final against Miami!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The match of his life in a Game 7. This will henceforth be the story linked to the name of Grant Williams. Boston’s 4 position opened the ball from the first 30 seconds, which gave him confidence for the future. Left open by the Milwaukee defense, he then gladly converted his open positions to take his total to 7/18 from distance to finish with a career-best 27 points.
– The “Greek Freak” on the kneecaps. The MVP of the last Finals was unable to reverse the trend in the second half. Targeted by the Celtics defense, he ran out and started the third quarter 1/6 on shot and with a loose ball before slamming two dunks late in the period. He tried to continue to hammer Boston’s defense but his failed layups showed that he was out of gas.
– The black hole from afar. The Bucks are going to have a headache ending their season with a disastrous 4/33 from afar. A stat that illustrates the completely failed second half of Mike Budenholzer’s troops. While obviously opposite, Boston surfed on the Grant Williams effect all evening.
– The absence of Khris Middleton. We can not hide the package of the main lieutenant of Giannis Antetokounmpo in this setback of the defending champion. The absence of the winger will have weighed on the series and on this Game 7. Because in addition to his production, he brings balance to the unbridled game of Giannis Antetokounmpo, being precious on the half-court. This alternation has been missed by Mike Budenholzer’s troops throughout the series.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Grant Williams. The Bucks and Brook Lopez were completely ignoring the strong winger, clumsy over the last four games (2/14 to 3-pointers in aggregate) and who refused more and more open shots, often finding himself at setbacks in offensive. His awakening therefore changed everything for Boston.
✅ Jayson Tatum. Because he again carried his team on his shoulders by participating in resisting the good start of the Bucks then by being essential on the decisive sequence of Boston which made it possible to distance Milwaukee as soon as they returned from the locker room.
⛔ Bucks shooters. 0/3 for Wes Matthews, 0/4 for Grayson Allen, 0/5 for Pat Connaughton and 0/6 for Jrue Holiday. The « snipers » of Milwaukee experienced a shipwreck from afar, closing the trap of the Celtics on a Giannis Antetokounmpo who found himself helpless, and who ended up exhausted.
THE FOLLOWING
Start of the conference final between the Heat and the Celtics on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, in Miami
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