Giannis on trailing Three-2: ‘We’re not gonna fold’
Malika AndrewsESPN
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo’s religion in his crew remained unshaken after Thursday evening’s 105-99 loss in Sport 5. Positive, the loss gave the Toronto Raptors a Three-2 collection lead within the Jap Convention finals. Positive, the Bucks had by no means trailed on this collection.
However when Antetokounmpo was requested about whether or not the Bucks have been going to crumple the way in which the Boston Celtics did within the convention semifinals, he shot again with a really stern reply.
“We’re not gonna fold,” Antetokounmpo vowed, reducing off the query. “We’re the most effective crew within the league. We’re gonna go in, give it all the things we acquired. We won’t fold. We’re gonna come again to Milwaukee being pissed.”
Just like the Celtics, who gained the primary sport of their collection with Milwaukee earlier than shedding the following 4, the Bucks have fallen right into a gap within the convention finals after profitable the primary two video games, dropping three straight to Toronto.
The Bucks had a number of alternatives to take management of Thursday’s sport. They jumped out to a 10-point lead after the primary quarter, and on the half, the Bucks led by three.
The sport got here right down to the final two minutes. Antetokounmpo slammed down an alley-oop from Malcolm Brogdon with 2 minutes, 6 seconds left in regulation to trim the Raptors’ three-point result in one.
The Bucks’ bench jumped up in celebration, and it appeared, for a second, as if this sport may go both means.
On the following possession, Kawhi Leonard missed a Three-pointer. As Antetokounmpo and Leonard jostled for the rebound, Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly on his proper ankle and inadvertently fouled the Raptors’ star.
Antetokounmpo headed to the bench, strolling gingerly on his ankle. He had tweaked that very same ankle within the common season. With the Greek Freak on the bench, the Raptors constructed a three-point lead. A collection of late errors, most notably a turnover from Brogdon and a missed jumper from Khris Middleton, proved pricey.
Antetokounmpo completed with 24 factors, six assists and 6 rebounds. Eric Bledsoe added 20 factors for the Bucks.
Whereas questions of why Antetokounmpo wasn’t in for among the sport’s remaining pivotal minutes swirled the web, Kyle Lowry stated he did not assume twice about Antetokounmpo sitting. Lowry instructed ESPN it was clear he tweaked his ankle.
“One factor about Giannis, he is been taking part in his ass off,” Kyle Lowry instructed ESPN. “I’d by no means blame Giannis for something. Generally pictures are simply missed, turnovers occur, it is the sport. Why does there should be blame? Giannis goes to be (one among) the most effective one, two or three gamers within the league for the following ten years.”
After the sport, the Bucks’ locker room was subdued. Antetokounmpo sat icing his ft and consuming a post-game snack. Ultimately, he put a protecting compression sleeve on his proper ankle. He sternly declined to make small discuss. George Hill and Bledsoe left in a rush with out chatting with reporters.
Antetokounmpo dismissed questions on his ankle, saying it felt “nice” and he “does not keep in mind” what precisely transpired that led to rolling it.
He insisted the Sport 5 loss did not really feel totally different than some other loss this season.
“I simply wish to win,” Antetokounmpo stated. “I believe we had an opportunity to win it, however we did not. Clearly, I am pissed. I’m not gonna mislead you. We acquired two extra video games to go.”
Now, the Bucks head into extra uncharted territory: trailing heading into Sport 6 on the highway.
ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan contributed to this report.