Bucks 120, Heat 103
Trail Blazers 115, Nuggets 95
76ers 132, Wizards 103
Jazz 121, Grizzlies 111
What went down
The Bucks are moving on to the Eastern Conference semifinals after sweeping the Miami Heat in four games, vanquishing the ghost of bubble’s past.
The series opener was a close one and needed a Khris Middleton game-winner. As for the last three games, well, it wasn’t even a question of who was the better team.
The Heat did show some fight especially in the early goings of Game 4. They jumped to a 12-point lead in the first half and settled for a 64-57 advantage at the break.
However, the third quarter belonged to the Bucks as they pummelled the home team to submission. They hung 34 points in the third and eventually took full control in the fourth. Giannis Antetokounmpo and company easily avenged their playoff defeat last year at the hands of the Heat and will now await the winner between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.
In the other East bracket, the 76ers are well on their way to the next round after routing the Wizards to go up 3-0. The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, tied their series with the Nuggets at 2-2 after a 20-point win.
After three blowout games on Sunday, the Grizzlies made things interesting in the fourth quarter before the Jazz executed down the stretch. Spearheaded by Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz finished the game on a gut-punching 14-2 run to take a 2-1 series lead.
Big-time baller
Joel Embiid’s dominant performance of 36 points and eight rebounds gets the big-time baller nod, getting the slight edge over Antetokounmpo’s triple-double (20-12-15) in a closeout game.
Embiid quickly reminded everyone why he’s an MVP finalist with his pristine 14-of-18 shooting, three triples, and three steals. He’s proven too much to handle for the Wizards and the top-seeded Sixers are one win away from the semifinals.
What he said
The Bucks knew that they had the Heat at the palm of their hands and they were just toying with them for most of the series. Antetokoumpo’s words sum up how overwhelming the Bucks were.
“Don’t play with your food. We didn’t want to play with our food.” pic.twitter.com/4WgIj2xlvr
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 29, 2021
Did you see that?
This first tweet by the Milwaukee Bucks was a vicious right hook.
This ain’t the bubble. 🔥 @calm pic.twitter.com/kkhQSQj5fG
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 29, 2021
Then they followed it up with the knockout uppercut.
Goodnight, #HeatTwitter. pic.twitter.com/HjPgxLDpzL
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 29, 2021
You have to respect the patience to wait for the perfect comeback and the creativity for this level of pettiness at the end of a series sweep.
