In an incredible Game 6 that saw the Celtics come out on top, the two teams combined for 90 points. (3:18)
There is a rivalry between the two players. The present of the Eastern Conference is being defined.
Antetokounmpo is putting up numbers. The franchise has 17 titles, and Tatum is breaking the records for the retired jerseys.
The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks haven't played a game yet.
The ice bag and Advil counts are rising by the game. In Game 6 Friday night, Antetokounmpo slammed the Celtics with two-by-fours and the Celtics star responded with high-arching dagger jumpers that cruelly prolonged each punch to the devastated Milwaukee crowd.
The Celtics won in Milwaukee for the second time in a week. The road teams are very close.
The third player in history to have a 40-20/6 game in the playoffs was Antetokounmpo, who had 44 points, 20 rebound and six assists. He has three 40-point, 10-rebound games.
He has three 40-point games against the Celtics in the playoffs. Jerry West won the Most Valuable Player despite the Los Angeles Lakers losing in the 1969 Finals, and in one of the most prolific series of his career, James did it despite the Lakers losing.
Antetokounmpo is right there with Tatum. After out-shooting, out-rebounding, out-assisting, out-stealing, out-stealing and out-shooting Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant in the first round, Tatum is going right at the current Finals Most Valuable Player in this series.
The second most points for the Celtics in an elimination game was scored by Tatum, who had 46. He has two 45 point games in the playoffs, which is something the Celtics never did.
The Celtics blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead two days ago, and when the Bucks reduced an 18-point lead down to five with six minutes to play, it was reminiscent of that.
This was our season on the line and you leave it all on the floor. I was not going to leave anything out there and have any regrets.
He made 14 shots that were difficult to score on, demoralizing the crowd. They came to Fiserv Forum expecting to see the Bucks win. The last eight closeout game opportunities were won by this title-winning group.
He vowed to be better after his worst game of the playoffs, in which he shot 4-of-19. In the last three games, he has averaged 37 points and 9.3 rebound. He scored 18 points in the first half to give the Celtics a 10 point halftime lead.
The big shots in the fourth quarter were even more valuable. It was the kind of effort a star makes in elimination games.
Marcus Smart said that he gets paid the big bucks for moments like that.
Antetokounmpo has increased his production without Khris Middleton. In the series, he has averaged 35.3 points, 13.8 rebound, and 6.8 assists. He went 14-of-15 at the foul line.
.jpg)
The full 30 for 30 library, premium articles from our NBA insiders, and more are available. You will be able to get everything on the Disney+ network if you sign up now.
Both Antetokounmpo and Tatum are blessed with height, flexibility and skill, but they are not the same player. Antetokounmpo was a big fan of Magic Johnson and Kevin Garnett. Kobe Bryant was a hero to Tatum. You can see it in their games. It is not the most natural match up.
That does not matter. There is no way to not see what they have done over the past two weeks.
It's foolish to make predictions about how many times this duo will do this. Nothing is certain. Antetokounmpo is 27 while Tatum is 24.
They are going to play again this year. The winner is going to feel like he won the fight and the loser is going to be devastated. A basketball fan wants more.
It was a big moment for me and the team. We believed that we could come in here and win.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
