The Milwaukee Bucks’ title defense is over after losing Sunday’s Game 7, 109-89, to the Boston Celtics. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished the game with 25 points, 20 rebounds, and nine assists, on 10-26 shooting from the field (1-4 from three-point range)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the first player ever with 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a single series pic.twitter.com/nuLx85wUkH
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 15, 2022
The Greek Freak shot just 3-11 in the second half, including going 1-6 in the fourth quarter. Antetokounmpo fired 27 or more shots in seven games throughout his career, with five of those coming in this second-round series against the Celtics. The two-time MVP had to carry that burden to help the Bucks win due to Khris Middleton being out after suffering a knee injury during the first round of the playoffs.
“Shots that I usually make wasn’t going in. That’s basketball. That’s sports,” Antetokounmpo said. “Sometimes, you win. Sometimes you lose. There’s a winner. There’s a loser. You’ve just got to live with it.”
If Giannis starts hitting these, it's over.
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 15, 2022
(via @NBAU) pic.twitter.com/S4gsJ6ltps
Antetokounmpo finished the seven-game series with a 237/103/50 stat line, averaging 33.9 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. The Greek Freak finished the playoffs averaging 31.6 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 12 playoff games this year, becoming the first player to average 31/14/6 during an entire playoff run. He became the first player in NBA history to finish single series with 200 points, 100 rebounds, and 50 assists.
Jrue Holiday finished the night with 21 points and eight dimes, followed by 15 points and 10 rebounds from Brook Lopez.
“Legs heavy. Body heavy. Mind heavy. Everything was heavy,” Antetkounmpo said after being asked if his legs felt heavy after the first quarter. ” I was just trying to be aggressive. At the end of the day, it’s Game 7, and I’m not gonna hold the ball and not look at the rim. I’d rather miss a bunch of shots and keep playing and keep coming and keep being aggressive. Keep looking for my teammates, keep making the right plays, then go into passive mode.”
The Eastern Conference Finals will start on Tuesday and will be contested between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. Both 2021 NBA Finals contestants were eliminated on Sunday after the Mavericks blew the Suns out, 123-90.
