Milwaukee Bucks: 15 greatest NBA playoff moments
By Adam McGee
4. Allen scores 19 consecutive points with Conference Finals survival on the line
It seems pretty safe to say that Ray Allen loved playing in a Game 6, but long before his legendary Finals shot against the Miami Heat, he produced one of his very best performances in Game 6 of a Conference Finals series with the Bucks.
With a one-point loss in Game 5 leaving the Bucks fighting for their playoff lives, Allen took matters into his own hands in an inspired scoring duel with Allen Iverson.
Iverson scored 46 points as only two other Sixers managed to score in double digits, while Allen weighed in with 41 points of his own, albeit slightly more efficiently.
Allen’s scoring effort was impressive for more than just the sheer volume, though.
Allen scored 19 consecutive Bucks points between the first and second quarters, with much of those making for an unanswered run, as a part of a dominant first half showing overall.
22 points from Glenn Robinson provided Milwaukee with the extra kick they needed to secure a win and make it to a Game 7, but the Bucks’ efforts are only all the more remarkable due to the events surrounding the series’ officiating.
Prior to Game 6, Allen had unleashed an incredible slew of allegations suggesting that Philadelphia had been favored by the referees and that Commissioner David Stern was even rooting for the Sixers in the arena.
"“It behooves everybody for the league to make more money, and the league knows that Philadelphia is going to make more money with L.A. than we would with L.A.”"
Of course, the irony is that Allen’s greatest game of the series also coincided with the biggest officiating controversy of the seven games. Scott Williams‘ suspension for Game 7 is still the source of debate and conspiracy to this day.
What we know for sure is that without Williams, the Bucks lost out to the Sixers in the series decider.