Giannis Antetokoumpo dominates as Milwaukee Bucks complete 4-0 series sweep over Detroit PIstons
Tuesday 23 April 2019 07:30, UK
Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 41 points as the visiting Milwaukee Bucks earned their first playoff series victory in 18 seasons by completing a four-game sweep of the Detroit Pistons with a 127-104 win on Monday.
The All-Star forward added nine rebounds, three assists and four blocks for the top-seeded Bucks, who will play fourth-seeded Boston in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. The Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in their first-round series. Milwaukee had lost in the first round during their past eight playoff appearances.
Khris Middleton had 18 points and Eric Bledsoe contributed 16 points and five assists for the Bucks. Nikola Mirotic tossed in 12 points off the bench. Sterling Brown added nine points, 13 rebounds and six assists for Milwaukee, who also swept the Pistons during the four-game regular-season series.
Milwaukee shot 41 free throws, hitting 31, compared to Detroit's 9-of-12 return at the line.
The eighth-seeded Pistons were swept in the opening round of the playoffs for the third time since 2009. They lost their 14th consecutive postseason game, an NBA record. They haven't won a playoff game since the 2007-08 season.
Reggie Jackson led Detroit with 26 points and seven assists. Blake Griffin had 22 points, five rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Andre Drummond chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Jackson carried the Pistons' offense in the first half, pouring in 20 points as Detroit grabbed a 62-56 half-time advantage.
Griffin made a three-pointer early in the third to give the Pistons a 71-62 lead, but Griffin and Drummond soon picked up their fourth fouls.
Middleton hit three free throws when Bruce Brown committed his fifth foul, tying the score at 73-all.
Griffin hit a pair of threes in a 29-second span to put Detroit back in front 79-75 with 5:13 left in the quarter.
Pat Connaughton's steal and dunk with 4:21 remaining in the quarter allowed Milwaukee to regain the lead, 83-82. Antetokounmpo attempted six free throws in a 1:39 span and made five, stretching the Bucks' advantage to 91-84.
A Bledsoe lay-up in the final minute of the quarter made it 95-85 after three. The Bucks also scored the first five points of the fourth quarter with Antetokounmpo resting, extending their advantage to 15 points.
