Watch Bucks @ Raptors Game 3 live on Sky Sports Arena late on Sunday night (midnight)
Saturday 18 May 2019 09:22, UK
Milwaukee head coach Mike Budenholzer said Giannis Antetokounmpo's hot start to Game 2 inspired his team-mates as they dispatched the Toronto Raptors 125-103 to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Antetokounmpo, who was named as one of three finalists for the regular season MVP award on Friday, opened the game with two huge dunks as the Bucks raced into a 9-0 lead.
He finished the first quarter with eight points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a huge block on Raptors center Marc Gasol having provided the Bucks with the perfect platform.
The East's No 1 seeds didn't look back and proceeded to steamroll the Raptors, establishing a 25-point half-time lead before completing a victory that doubled their series advantage.
"He plays so hard. He lays it all on the line all the time," said Budennholzer of Antetokounmpo. "It was a great start for us, everybody fed off of Giannis and how he started the game. It's how you want to come into a Game 2.
"To come out and start Game 2 with that kind of effort on both ends of the court, it's what you're looking for. We've just got to keep working and keep thinking about getting better."
Antetokounmpo explained his start to the game was a reflection of the responsibility he has as his team's go-to player.
"When the game starts, my team-mates are looking at me," he said. "As a leader of the team, you've got to set a tone and be focused. It's so nice seeing guys coming into the game mentally prepared and playing hard. This is the beauty of basketball and our team - we trust one another. On any given night, guys can step up."
Antetokounmpo's team-mate Khris Middleton said: "We came out and competed from the beginning of the game until the end. We had a little rust the first game, and this game we knew we wanted to come out with a full force and a fast pace."
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse felt his team had contributed to their own downfall by failing to start the game with the right level of defensive intensity.
"You've got your coverages and things you are going to do at the beginning [of the game] and we missed them early," he said. "We were a step too slow on just about everything and gave them confidence early."
"You know they are at home and they are going to come out with extra pep in their step and we didn't do a good enough job of getting ourselves set up."
Game 3 takes place in Toronto late on Sunday night (midnight) live on Sky Sports Arena.
