NEWSLETTER
I’m still trying to process last night …
Bucks 110, Celtics 107
Series: MIL leads 3-2
On Wednesday night, Jayson Tatum was on his game, finishing with 34 points, and the Celtics led the Bucks by 14 early in the fourth quarter. But the defending champs did some defending champs things, erasing that deficit as time wound down. Still, the Celtics had a chance to hold on in this one leading by two with seconds remaining in the game. Giannis hit one free throw to make it 107-106 Boston. Then Giannis missed the second free throw … and for a split second, it looked like the Celtics were going to pull this out.
Then came Bobby Portis’ most heroic moment of his career:
Bobby Portis' rebound and putback to win Game 5… through the lens of our slo-mo #PhantomCam! pic.twitter.com/RYnl8jJsVW
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2022
Portis secured the rebound and then dropped a floater off the glass to put the Bucks in front by one with about 13 seconds to play. This is the type of moment that Bulls fans hoped to associate with Bobby Portis when they drafted him in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, but unfortunately, it never came to fruition. Anywho, back to last night. Despite being down one, Boston had a crack at the final shot.
Marcus Smart took the shot, and it was a questionable shot, if there ever was one. But the real problem for Boston was Jrue Holiday …
Block the shot.
Retain possession.
Throw it off the opponent.This #PhantomCam look at Jrue Holiday's game-saving defensive gem is special. pic.twitter.com/2Gjtatoeyg
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2022
Ironic how the NBA Defensive Player of the Year was stopped not once but twice in the final 10 seconds of this game is the type of wildness that you can only find in the NBA Playoffs. Holiday blocked and stole the ball from Smart on his drive to the rim and then threw it off of Smart as he was going out of bounds to ensure the Bucks retained possession. After a pair of free throws on the other end, Holiday stripped Smart again as the Celtics tried to get down the court for a game-tying three-point attempt.
AND NOW A STEAL FROM JRUE HOLIDAY TO SEAL THE @Bucks GAME 5 WIN! pic.twitter.com/38FsgfjItx
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2022
Holiday finished up with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal—what a performance by Holiday. Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 40 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Bucks in the victory that now puts them in control of the series heading into Friday night’s Game 6 in Milwaukee. The Bucks now have a shot to close it out and make their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance with one more victory.
Grizzlies 134, Warriors 95
Series: GSW leads 3-2
No Ja Morant … no problem? That was the case for at least one night as Memphis throttled the Golden State Warriors with their backs against the wall last night. Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Tyus Jones each scored 21 points for the Grizz as they hammered the Warriors in front of their home crowd. No one on the Warriors even cracked the 20-point threshold.
JJJ from deep.
On repeat.@memgrizz keep rolling on TNT pic.twitter.com/lMqejTTSWx— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2022
At one point in the third quarter, the Grizzlies led by almost 50 points! This was an absolute non-contest. Now, the Warriors get to head home on Friday night with two more chances to close this series, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone who believes that Memphis can do this two more times without Ja Morant. But, if this was the final home game of the season for the Grizz, they sure as heck gave their fans a memorable showing.
I’m sure Stephen Curry and the Warriors will have this on their mind on Friday night:
Steph Curry watching the PA play ‘Whoop that Trick’. Draymond Green enjoying it. pic.twitter.com/R2TP1AFnHT
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 12, 2022
