Milwaukee Bucks: Grades from Game 7 OT win against Brooklyn Nets

JRUE HOLIDAY. C-. This was certainly far from Jrue Holiday’s best performance in a Bucks uniform, and this is a very generous C- solely because he and the Bucks gutted out this win. The guard finished the game with 13 points on a horrendous 5-for-23 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-9 from deep, struggling to get anything to drop for most of the night. Yet, Holiday came up clutch for the Bucks as regulation winded down by scoring eight points in just over the final five minutes in regulation to help keep Milwaukee in this game. With his shooting just abysmal for most of the night, Holiday played the facilitator role often, playing solid in that department by handing out eight assists to just one turnover across his 48 minutes of action. Despite how poorly he shot the ball, the Bucks could not have won this basketball game without Holiday’s contributions down the stretch.. PG. Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks. KHRIS MIDDLETON. C. Much like his running mate in the backcourt in Holiday, Khris Middleton struggled to find his groove on the offensive end all night. Shooting just 9-of-26 from the floor, including 2-of-7 from deep, this was not the heroic Middleton that fans saw take over Game 6 just days prior. Yet, he finished with 23 points and made some tough shots late. The biggest shot of them all was a turnaround fadeaway to give Milwaukee a 113-111 lead with 40.7 seconds left to play. That shot is why he is getting this grade here because the Bucks lose without it. Although his scoring proved to be the difference, Middleton’s impact was written all over this game as he tallied 10 rebounds, six assists, and five steals in his nearly 52-and-a-half minutes. The most significant knock is the poor shooting splits, but it ultimately did not matter in the end, despite his awfully slow start.. SG

A. With Milwaukee’s season hanging in the balance, P.J. Tucker left everything out on the floor for his team. Despite Kevin Durant, his primary assignment defensively, having yet another phenomenal game, Tucker did his part to slow down Durant by making him work for every bucket when they were matched up. There is no stopping Kevin Durant. Everyone knows this. Yet, when it comes to limiting him, there are few better defenders than Tucker, which was on display all throughout this series. Surprisingly, the forward also gave the team a massive boost offensively by scoring 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Three of those shots came from his sweet spot in the corner, proving to be a lifeline for the Bucks on both ends. Tucker worked his tail off for 38 minutes before fouling out late in the game and he deserves praise for his relentless efforts.. SF. Milwaukee Bucks. P.J. TUCKER

A+. This was certainly viewed as a career-defining game for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the eyes of many. With all the talk surrounding his previous failures to get the job done on the big stage, he came out and delivered a performance for the record books. The Greek Freak finished with 40 points on 62.5 percent shooting from the floor. Although he heaved a few too many 3-pointers, Antetokounmpo was in attack mode all night and did everything in his power to keep the Bucks in this game from start to finish. Despite shooting 8-of-14 from the free throw line, including two airballs, the big man did not let it deter his confidence as he remained aggressive, which is what this team needed. Also grabbing 13 rebounds and notching five assists, this was just another fantastic playoff performance from the two-time MVP as he finally got the big minutes with 50 total played.. PF. Milwaukee Bucks. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

A. Brook Lopez has been at the forefront of criticism for his fit with this team, but this  Game 7 performance is one that will be remembered for a long time. Playing on the court where he started his NBA journey, the big man put on a fantastic display on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Lopez was efficient by scoring 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including an impressive 3-of-4 from behind the arc. He was clicking from everywhere, including at the line as he sealed the Milwaukee win with a pair of shots before the final buzzer. Defensively, Lopez worked overtime as he tallied four blocked shots across his 46 minutes, one of which came with just under a minute left in overtime that proved crucial. With the game knotted at 111 and Durant driving to the hole, Lopez assured there would be no easy access as he swatted the shot. Hats off to Lopez for stepping up on both ends and delivering such a stellar performance.. C. Milwaukee Bucks. BROOK LOPEZ