The Milwaukee Bucks gave a good answer in the NBA play-offs, sweeping the Chicago Bulls off the floor with 111:81. Atlanta showed signs of life against Miami thanks to Trae Young, Phoenix leads again against New Orleans.
The Bucks, who had yet to find their rhythm in the first two games, started like fire in Chicago and quickly silenced a raucous United Center in the Bulls’ first play-off home game in five years. In the end, the ’90s series champions suffered one of the highest playoff home losses in franchise history.
Grayson Allen sank five three-pointers en route to an emphatic 111-81 win and was the reigning champions’ leading scorer with 22 points. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Bobby Portis, who replaced the injured Khris Middleton as starter, recorded 18 points and 16 rebounds.
Middleton injured his left knee in the Game 2 loss and is expected to miss at least the rest of the series, which resumes Sunday in Chicago. For the Bulls (Nikola Vucevic: 18 points), DeMar DeRozan, who had scored 41 points Wednesday, didn’t flourish (finishing with just 11).
Suspicious package causes delay in Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks could rely on their all-star Trae Young after two losses in the series opener against the Miami Heat. His floater with 4.4 seconds left gave the Hawks a 111-110 win and a sign of life in their clash with the top-seeded Heat. “There was no doubt in my mind,” Young (24 points) said of the decisive shot. The Hawks had rallied from a 16-point deficit in the final quarter. Miami ended up without point guard Kyle Lowry, who was ruled out in the third quarter because of a thigh blister.
The start of the game had been delayed by 45 minutes because a suspicious package had been found near the hall. However, after checking the item for explosives, the all-clear was given.
Paul takes over in the final quarter – Suns win even without Booker
West-leading Phoenix won 114-111 at the New Orleans Pelicans even without their injured superstar Devin Booker. The Suns now lead the series 2-1 thanks to Chris Paul, who scored 19 of his 28 points in the final quarter and handed out a total of 14 assists. Deandre Ayton also delivered with 28 points and 17 rebounds. For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram (34) and CJ McCollum (30) came up trumps on the offensive end. For forward Jaxson Hayes the game was over early in the second quarter after a jostle against Jae Crowder.
