The Bucks' Game 5 win over the Celtics was defined by 10 seconds of Jrue Holiday's defensive heroics

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The relationship between Khris Middleton and teammate Khris Antetokounmpo is well-known for its depth and trust.

But about the Holiday relationship.

After the Milwaukee Bucks finished off a jaw-dropping display of clutch play in stealing a 110-107 Game 5 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, Antetokounmpo said "It's blooming!"

I love him.

After the final buzzer, Holiday was wrapped in a hug by Antetokounmpo, who had covered his right eye with skin glue and was bleeding profusely in the fourth quarter.

The deal for Holiday in 2020 that sent three first-round picks to the Bucks was questioned at the time, but the team eventually signed him to a $135 million extension last year. After he delivered another defensive gem, those felt like bargains. In this case, a diamond and a Ruby.

It's hard to communicate the greatness of the play he made with eight seconds left and the Bucks up by one point, after a dramatic putback by Bobby Portis that deserves its own novella.

Jaylen Brown scored 16 of his 26 points in the third quarter. Marcus Smart went for a potential game-winning shot after the Celtics spent the fourth attacking the easier mark. Smart was in the process of getting a clean look when Holiday broke off from Brown.

All will, instincts and fortune favored the prepared. Holiday believed that Smart wouldn't be able to see if Brown was open. Smart never saw the blur that ripped the shot out of his hands before it could enter Celtics lore as a game winner.

Holiday grabbed the ball in midair to try to keep possession, instead of swatting it and staying with Boston and another chance to win. He had to dance to control the ball and stay in bounds as he landed from his leap. Holiday grabbed the ball and threw it off of Smart to finish off one of the most graceful thefts you will ever see.

Smart was speechless after being named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Holiday said it was not like he planned it out.

The Celtics had a chance to tie the score with 5.9 seconds left, but they were down three points after Holiday forced a turnover. But Holiday iced Smart again, picking his pocket as he raced up the floor looking for a way to get the Celtics a 3-pointer. The Bucks were one win from taking the series when Holiday arrived.

He is a winner. "Ask any player in this league, any coach in this league, he is a winner," Budenholzer said.

All of this overlooks that Holiday scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left that tied the score to finish a 14-point Milwaukee comeback. With Middleton out with a knee injury, the Bucks need Holiday's offense as well as his defense.

The game was dominated by Antetokounmpo, who scored 40 points and had 11 rebound. The Bucks were on the ropes a few times, but Antetokounmpo kept them in the game with his basket attacks. Portis made the difference with his putback after Brown and Smart lost a rebound in a debacle that could end up being one of the most fateful moments in the entire NBA playoffs.

The defining moment of the Milwaukee Bucks run to the title was when Kevin Durant hit a 3-point basket at the end of the fourth quarter in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Brooklyn Nets. It is possible that Portis was able to put the offensive rebound back.

Holiday was the hero even with Portis and Antetokounmpo.

Holiday said that people would say that everything was against them when they were down 14 in the fourth quarter. We live and die by that. Having each other's backs, just wrapping arms and going up there fighting, just leaving it on the line.