Reigning-Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo’s quickfire 33 points and 9 rebounds has helped lift the Milwaukee Bucks to a 116-100 Game 5 win over the Chicago Bulls to seal the series 4-1 and set up a second-round matchup against the Boston Celtics.
Antetokounmpo spent just over 30 minutes on the floor and still managed to come up with a game-high 33 points on 11-of-15 from the floor and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line, all whilst posting a game-high +18. The Bucks’ dominance through the first three quarters of the game allowed head coach Mike Budenholzer to find some rest for Antetokounmpo, who did not appear in the final eight minutes of the game. The Bucks’ supporting cast stepped up in the absence of the injured Khris Middleton; Pat Connaughton poured in 20 points on 6-of-9 from three-point range in 23 minutes off the bench, whilst Bobby Portis had 14 points to go along with a game-high 17 rebounds. Jrue Holiday struggled shooting the ball, finishing with just 10 points on 4-of-14 from the field and 1-of-7 from three but still managed 9 assists and his usual dogged on-ball pressure.
The Bulls, meanwhile, were without Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso due to health and safety protocols, whilst Lonzo Ball did not appear in the series due to injury. Billy Donovan’s squad fought hard but ran out of juice against the defending champs. Nikola Vučević led the way in this one, finishing with 19 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists, whilst second-year wing Patrick Williams finished with a team-high 23 points on 9-of-13 from the field and 4-of-7 from three. DeMar DeRozan had a quiet night after an amazing season, finishing with just 11 points and 7 assists on 5-of-10 from the field. Coby White did what he could to provide a spark off the bench, hitting 4-of-13 from three en route to 16 points.
Despite their courage, the Bulls lost touch with the Bucks early and struggled to keep pace with them. The Bucks were +16 in the first quarter and took a 23-point lead into the final frame. The Bucks dominated the paint and the boards, all whilst shooting at higher clips from the field, from three, and from the line.
Milwaukee will now face the second-seeded Celtics for a shot at the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics are fresh off an unlikely sweep of an ultra-talented Nets squad in which they flexed their defensive muscles and let Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown do their work on the offensive end. The teams split their season series two-apiece and should be prepared for a tight series. The Bucks hope that Khris Middleton will be ready to return from a sprained MCL but his re-inclusion is not guaranteed. The Celtics, on the other, are at full health after welcoming Robert Williams III back against Brooklyn.
