It seems safe to say we can finally exhale after the thrilling conclusion of Game 1 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat.
In a game that included 16 ties and 17 lead changes, 48 minutes of action was not enough as this game went into overtime for five more. After more back and forth jabs from both teams late, it was Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton that saved the day for the Bucks as he knocked in a jumper to take a 109-107 lead with just 0.5 seconds left to play.
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Middleton’s tough jumper proved crucial as it was indeed the game-winning bucket with Miami’s Jimmy Butler missing a shot at the buzzer in this thrilling opening matchup.
If this contest signals what is yet to come, we are locked in for one tension-filled seven-game series. If the Bucks will eventually come out on top, there are several areas they must look to correct that nearly cost them this opening game.
With that being said, here are three takeaways from Milwaukee’s Game 1 victory over Miami.
The Milwaukee Bucks have an abysmal shooting afternoon in Game 1 win over Heat
Shooting between both of these teams was set to be a massive factor heading into this matchup, which proved true rather quickly.
The Bucks were ice cold offensively all afternoon as they shot an abysmal 5-for-31 from behind the arc in this opening game. Three of those five makes came solely from Khris Middleton, who was the team’s only lifeline from long range. For the Bucks to get a win when they shoot 16.1 percent from 3-point territory is a surprising feat, particularly as the Heat were on the complete opposite side of the spectrum.
Miami was scorching from the perimeter by knocking in 20-of-50 from deep. Sharpshooting forward Duncan Robinson paved the way by shooting 7-for-13 against Milwaukee and scoring 24 points in the process. With defending the perimeter being among the Bucks’ biggest weak points throughout the regular season, Robinson is someone who could have a massive impact during the remainder of the series if he catches fire yet again. The team must devise a game plan for Game 2 on how to slow him down offensively.
The 3-point shooting between these two teams will continue to play a key factor as the series progresses and the Bucks must find their mark from distance. In particular, one player that could alter this series with their shooting is Bryn Forbes, the team’s sharpshooter off the bench. The guard kicked off the series by going 0-for-3 from deep and he must look to have a bounce-back game in the coming days.
The Milwaukee Bucks dominate in the paint in Game 1 win over Heat
With everyone’s outside shot struggling to fall, the Bucks adjusted and looked to do their damage closer to the basket.
It proved to be the right decision to stay in the game as Milwaukee racked up 56 paint points versus Miami when the final buzzer sounded. The Bucks’ rebounding on the offensive glass proved pivotal in that aspect as they scored an impressive 19 second chance points while hauling in 15 offensive rebounds.
One specific player that helped propel Milwaukee’s paint assault was starting center Brook Lopez, who made his presence felt by scoring eight of his 18 total points down low. The big man’s aggressiveness also earned him eight attempts from the free throw line where he made good by earning himself seven extra points.
Although Lopez has expanded his offensive arsenal to shoot more triples, it is evident that he has taken a new approach that involves working closer to the basket more often when looking to score the basketball. With so much attention going to be directed towards two-time MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lopez’s inside scoring could be a potential X-factor moving forward.
According to NBA.com/stats, Miami boasted the most formidable paint defense during the regular season by surrendering just 41.3 points per game to their opponents. The Bucks were certainly well above that mark yesterday and finding similar success moving forward will be pivotal, particularly if their outside shot is struggling to fall yet again.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ Big 3 fit the billing in Game 1 win over Heat
Milwaukee’s newly formed leading trio hit the big stage for the first time together yesterday and they did not disappoint.
Khris Middleton stole the show with his aforementioned game winning jumper which capped off a team-high 27 point scoring outing on 10-of-22 shooting. Although there were certainly some questionable lapses from the forward throughout, Middleton came up clutch and delivered when it mattered most. Scoring aside, he made his presence known elsewhere by hauling in six rebounds, dishing six assists and grabbing two steals.
It was undoubtedly a more complex afternoon for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished right behind Middleton with 26 points. However, it was far from his best outing as he needed 27 field goal attempts to get there and connected on just 10 of them. It did not help that the forward struggled mightily from the free throw line by shooting just 6-of-13, which nearly cost them the game entirely as he missed several late. He made good elsewhere by tallying 18 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
While his offensive struggles were on full display, Antetokounmpo did a solid job defensively when matched up against Miami’s Jimmy Butler. According to NBA.com/stats, Butler scored just five points on 2-for-6 shooting when guarded by Antetokounmpo over 31.7 partial possessions. Butler would finish the game shooting just 4-for-22 from the floor entirely as the Bucks made it hard for him all afternoon. Keeping those tenacious defensive efforts consistent and limiting Butler’s production will be critical in this series.
Lastly, Jrue Holiday’s first playoff action since 2018 was not disappointing. Despite shooting a vile 0-for-5 from long range, the guard finished with 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field. After struggling early, Holiday turned it up a notch in the third quarter by scoring 11 of his points during that period. Holiday also finished with a double-double by gathering 11 rebounds while also handing out three assists and snatching three steals.
Despite these eye-popping numbers across the board, perhaps what stood out the most in this matchup was the minutes distribution from head coach Mike Budenholzer. Every member of the Big 3 played over 40 minutes against the Heat, which is quite the change compared to last season. It appears the coach is finally willing to let go of the leash and let his top players see the floor for an extended time.
These two teams will pick up right where they left off when they square off again on Monday night. This will be a crucial Game 2 for both teams involved and you can catch the action at 6:30 p.m. CST on TNT as well as Bally Sports Wisconsin for those living locally.