#Celtics #sending #defending #champion #vacation
Emerging victorious in Milwaukee in Game 6 when they were back against the wall, the Celtics finished the job at home in a Game 7 win without shaking to fire the defending champion. If Jayson Tatum still pitched a great game, with Jaylen Brown also productive alongside him, it is Grant Williams who will remain the man of this game, with his career-high 27 points!
Like the Celtics in Game 6, the Bucks tried to make the most of it from the start to try to calm a TD Garden waiting for the slightest spark. Giannis Antetokounmpo responded from the start scoring the first minutes of the game with five assists from him and a basket of 3 points (6-13).
To counteract the rise in temperature of the Brown-Tatum pairing, Milwaukee relied on its good defense and its transition game to move 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-pointer, and the Brown-Tatum duo once again did what it took to take Boston to -6 at the end of the first inning (20-26), then equalized before seeing Al Horford dump the crowd with a great mate (32-30).
The fight was on, and the two teams met blow for blow until the break, but Marcus Smart offered a five-point lead to his side after a dunk and a wicked shot off Giannis Antetokounmpo rewarded with three shots in the last. second. (48-43).
Like Giannis Antetoknounmpo at the start of the match, Jayson Tatum, for his part, displayed his qualities as a “midfielder” after returning from the locker room, with two golden services for the triples of Grant Williams and Jaylen Brown, a triple of him and a high 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 charged calmly by Jayson Tatum, synonymous with a premature return to the bench, Boston held on thanks to its X factor of the night, Grant Williams, author of a dunk and two triples that extended the distance. (76-60).
At +15 to 12 minutes into the game (79-64), the Celtics did not miss the opportunity to sentence the game, trusting this time in the Pritchard-Tatum-Williams trio to quickly end the suspense (87-68). ). Payton Pritchard hit the nail on the head with two 3-point missiles, and TD Garden got to savor their victory for six long minutes, punctuated 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 TO REMEMBER
– The match of his life in a Game 7. This will henceforth be the story tied to the name of Grant Williams. Boston’s position 4 opened up the ball from the first 30 seconds, giving him confidence going forward. Left wide open by the Milwaukee defense, he then gladly converted his open positions to bring his total to 7/18 from distance to finish with a career-best 27 points from him.
– The “Greek Freak” on the kneecaps. The MVP of the last Finals could not reverse the trend in the second half. Targeted by the Celtics defense, he ran out and started the third quarter 1/6 shooting and with a fumble before making two late-period dunks. He tried to keep hitting the Boston defense, but his missed layups showed that he was out of fuel.
– The black hole from afar. The Bucks are going to have a headache ending their season with a disastrous 4/33 from distance. A stat that illustrates the completely unsuccessful second half of Mike Budenholzer’s troops. Though obviously on the opposite side, Boston sailed on the Grant Williams effect all night.
– The absence of Khris Middleton. We can’t hide the package from Giannis Antetokounmpo’s top lieutenant in this setback from the defending champion. The absence of the winger will have weighed on the series and in this Game 7. Because in addition to his production, he brings balance to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s unbridled game, being precious in midfield. Mike Budenholzer’s troops have overlooked this alternation throughout the series.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅Grant Williams. The Bucks and Brook Lopez completely ignored the strong winger, who was clumsy in the last four games (2/14 from 3s in total) and who rejected more and more open shots, often encountering setbacks on offense. Therefore, his awakening changed everything for Boston.
✅ Jayson Tatum. Because he once again carried his team on his shoulders, participating in resisting the good start of the Bucks and then being fundamental in the decisive sequence of Boston that allowed Milwaukee to distance himself as soon as he returned from the locker room.
⛔ Dollar shooters. 0/3 for Wes Matthews, 0/4 for Grayson Allen, 0/5 for Pat Connaughton and 0/6 for Jrue Holiday. The Milwaukee “snipers” experienced a wreck from afar, closing the Celtics’ trap on a helpless Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ended up exhausted.
THE CONTINUATION
Start of the conference final between Heat and Celtics on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, in Miami