Scoreboard
Bucks 116, Bulls 100 (MIL wins series, 4-1)
Warriors 102, Nuggets 98 (GSW wins series, 4-1)
What went down
It was a must-win game for two teams and neither of them survived. The Chicago Bulls had the worst luck of not having Zach LaVine in Game 5 due to health and safety protocols.
The Milwaukee Bucks immediately took advantage and built a big lead from the start. The Bulls, despite efforts from DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, were just overmatched.
Giannis Antetokounmpo put on his elimination game hat and poured in 33 points and hauled down nine rebounds. He got help from the muscle of Bobby Portis and the combined nine 3s of Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen.
The Bucks have the Boston Celtics next.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets’ long and exhausting season also came to an end at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.
Nikola Jokic dropped 30 points in the losing effort, cancelled out by Steph Curry’s own 30-point game. The Nuggets put up a valiant effort in keeping it close, but the lack of resources finally caught up with them. After carrying the Nuggets on his shoulders the entire season, Jokic can finally rest.
Big-time ballers
In his last game of the playoffs, Nikola Jokic went out swinging. The reigning MVP put up a 30-19-8 line, but still came up short against the Warriors.
Nikola Jokic was incredible in Game 5 for the @nuggets. #MileHighBasketball
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2022
🏀 30 PTS (12/18 FGM), 19 REB, 8 AST, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/oUAVBAVdKf
Bobby Portis was huge again for the defending champs in an elimination game. Portis scored 14 points and pulled down 17 rebounds.
What he said
It was another painful first-round exit for DeMar DeRozan, but the Chicago Bulls are building something great. Watch out next season.
"It's been a great year, just being around the front office, teammates, the city, everything has been more than I could've imagined. … I'm already looking forward to next year, getting out there and doing it again," said DeRozan.
Did you see that?
This Giannis putback said it all:
🎥 A look at Giannis' putback dunk from inside the arena in Milwaukee!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on TNT pic.twitter.com/wZ6TJ5PhvJ
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2022
