Bucks

Giannis’ biggest fans watch, celebrate title a world away

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 2:10pm

With less than a minute remaining in the game, Yiannis Tzikas was already setting out plastic cups to fill with champagne.

“It’s over. No one can turn this game now,” he said, his hands trembling slightly as he popped the cork.

Tzikas runs the Kivotos Cafe, where Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo used to grab a sandwich and juice box on his way to basketball practice as a teenager, in Sepolia, an old factory town that’s long been part of greater Athens.

Antetokounmpo caps extraordinary postseason as finals MVP

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 2:06pm

Three weeks ago, a knee injury left Giannis Antetokounmpo looking 50/50 to return for the rest of the Bucks’ playoff run.

Look at him now.

The Greek Freak delivered perhaps the best performance of his career at the best possible moment and can now add an NBA Finals MVP award to his two regular-season MVP trophies. Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in a series-clinching 105-98 game six victory that ended the Bucks’ 50-year title drought.

Bucks' 50-year title wait ends behind 50 from Giannis

Published by admin on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 11:10pm

Giannis Antetokounmpo ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever with 50 points — and a championship Milwaukee waited 50 years to win again.

Antetokounmpo had 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns 105-98 on July 20 to win the series 4-2.

It was the third game this series with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds for Antetokounmpo, a dominant, debut finals performance that takes its place among some of the game's greatest.

Bucks edge Suns to take 3-2 lead in NBA Finals

Published by admin on Sat, 07/17/2021 - 11:25pm

Jrue Holiday seized his chance to give the Milwaukee Bucks the lead in the NBA Finals.

Took it right out of Devin Booker's hands, actually.

Holiday's steal and alley-oop pass to Giannis Antetokounmpo for a dunk sealed a wild game five and gave the Bucks a 123-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns on June 17.

Antetokounmpo had 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Khris Middleton added 29 points, and Holiday had 27 points and 13 assists.

Middleton sends Bucks past Suns to tie NBA Finals

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 10:57pm

Updated: July 14, 11:05 p.m.

Khris Middleton's big finish means these NBA Finals are just getting started.

Middleton scored 40 points, including 10 straight for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch to send them past the Phoenix Suns by a score of 109-103 on July 14 to tie the series 2-2.

Middleton's hot hand and a big block from Giannis Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks their second straight victory in the first close game of the series.

Giannis has 41 to lead Bucks past Suns

Published by admin on Sun, 07/11/2021 - 10:09pm

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks made the NBA Finals' return to Milwaukee a slamming success.

The way the Greek Freak is going, the party might just be getting started.

Antetokounmpo had 41 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, and the Bucks pounded Phoenix 120-100 on July 11, cutting the Suns' lead to 2-1 in ther series.

The first NBA Finals game in Milwaukee since 1974 went to the home team in a romp, with Antetokounmpo and the bigger Bucks overwhelming the smallish Suns to the tune of a 20-2 advantage in second-chance points.

Giannis plays, but Bucks drop game 1 to Suns

Published by admin on Tue, 07/06/2021 - 10:48pm

The Milwaukee Bucks showed resiliency after falling behind by 20 points, but still came up short in an eventual 118-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the first game of the 2021 NBA Finals.

Phoenix led by seven after halftime before a big third quarter put the hosts up 20 on Milwaukee. The Bucks cut the deficit to seven, 101-94, with just over seven minutes to play in the game, but a 3-pointer from Devin Booker and jumper from Chris Paul put the Suns back up 12.

Paul led the Suns with 32 points, while Booker added 27. Deandre Ayton scored 22 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.

Bucks hope Antetokounmpo can return for long-awaited Finals

Published by admin on Mon, 07/05/2021 - 10:13am

The Milwaukee Bucks proved they were good enough to wrap up the Eastern Conference Finals without their best player.

Now the Bucks face a quick turnaround before game one of the NBA Finals at the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. It’s not known if that leaves Giannis Antetokounmpo sufficient time to recover from his hyperextended left knee that prevented him from playing in the final two games of the series against the Atlanta Hawks.

“It’s just a day-to-day thing,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after a 118-107 win over the Hawks gave Milwaukee a 4-2 series victory.

Bucks beat Hawks, head to NBA Finals for 1st time since 1974

Published by admin on Sat, 07/03/2021 - 11:12pm

The Milwaukee Bucks were an instant success in the NBA, winning a championship in just their third season and reaching the finals again three years later.

Nearly a half-century later, they finally have a shot at another title.

Khris Middleton scored 32 points, including a run of 16 straight in a decisive third quarter that carried the Bucks to a 118-107 victory over the upstart Atlanta Hawks in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals on July 3.

Without Giannis, Bucks beat Hawks to take 3-2 series lead

Published by admin on Thu, 07/01/2021 - 10:24pm

Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 33 points and the Milwaukee Bucks withstood Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence to beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-112 on July 1 for a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Bucks are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974. They won their lone NBA title in 1971.

Four of their starters had at least 22 points: Lopez, Khris Middleton (26), Jrue Holiday (25) and Bobby Portis (22). Middleton also had 13 rebounds and eight assists. Holiday had 13 assists and six rebounds.