With Giannis Antetokounmpo out of the Milwaukee Bucks lineup with a back injury in game two of the Bucks’s first round series against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, many expected Milwaukee to struggle just like they did in game one without their star player. However, it was the Bucks supporting cast that became the stars, as they came away with a convincing 138-122 win to tie the best out of seven Eastern Conference playoff series at one game apiece. In the process, the Bucks set a NBA record for the most points scored in a playoff game without a team’s leading scorer from the regular season in the lineup according to ESPN. Antetokounmpo of Athens, Greece led the Bucks this season with 31.1 points per game.
Center Brook Lopez of Los Angeles, California led the Bucks offensively with 25 points. He was one of seven Bucks players to reach double digits in points. The others were Jrue Holiday of Los Angeles (24 points), Pat Connaughton of Arlington, Massachusetts (22 points), Australia’s own Joe Ingles of Happy Valley (17 points), Grayson Allen of Jacksonville, Florida (16 points), Khris Middleton of Charleston, South Carolina (16 points), and Bobby Portis of Little Rock, Arkansas (13 points).
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Holiday and Portis each had double doubles. Holiday had 11 assists and Portis had 15 rebounds.
The biggest difference in the Bucks lineup in game two compared to game one appeared to be the addition of Connaughton. The Bucks veteran shooting guard had been recently out with an ankle injury, but returned for game two and had a significant impact off the bench.
In other NBA action on Wednesday, the Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-113 and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Lakers 103-93. The Nuggets took a two games to none lead, while the Grizzlies tied their series at one.
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