NBA Playoffs: The Bucks trample all over the Heat in a second-game rout!
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - The Milwaukee Bucks blew out the Miami Heat on Monday to take game two in an almost unbelievable blowout.
This game couldn't have been more different from Saturday's overtime nail-biter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (26) and the Bucks exploded for a lot of points to beat the Heat 132-98, taking a 2-0 series lead in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. Any momentum Miami thought they still had seems to have disappeared now, as the series heads down to South Beach for game three.
While Giannis played like the two-time MVP he is, he took a back seat to Bryn Forbes, coming off the bench and leading the game's opening charge that gave the Bucks a commanding lead from the start. Forbes seemed to score almost at will, helping Milwaukee put up 46 points in just the first quarter as they made 15 3-pointers in the first half. By halftime, the Bucks had scored 78 points, their highest first-half total in team history.
The Heat just didn't stand a chance once the Bucks got off and running. "This game got out of hand quickly," said Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, during his postgame interview with ESPN.
Heat's challenge fizzles out
The second-half scoring was much closer between both teams, but the game already belonged to the Bucks. Milwaukee had already broken 100 points in the final minutes of the third quarter, well on their way to the big finish. By the midway point of the fourth, both teams emptied their benches, customary of a blowout.
Giannis finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks. Khris Middleton contributed with 17 points, while Jrue Holiday scored 11 points with 15 assists.
The Heat got a decent effort from their bench with Dewayne Dedmon leading the team with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Goran Dragic put up 18. Miami's starters were held in check for the most part, with no player of their starting five scoring more than 16 points.
Game three is down in Miami on Thursday night.
Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire