Grading Milwaukee Bucks’ gritty Game 5 comeback win vs. Boston Celtics

The Milwaukee Bucks trailed the Boston Celtics by 14 points with 10:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, and then the Bucks flipped the fourth quarter script that nearly cost them in game 3 and that cost them a 3-1 series lead in game 4. Let’s grade the performances from the Milwaukee Bucks game 5 wild comeback win.

Grading Milwaukee Bucks’ Game 5 Comeback Win: Second Unit

Second Unit: A-

The two main cogs in the Milwaukee Bucks bench unit are Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis. Pat Connaughton played solid defensively and was instrumental in the Bucks late comeback. Pat Connaughton hit 3-point shots with 9:52 and 7:38 left in the game, the latter cutting the Celtics lead to single digits. Then in the closing seconds Connaughton made two game sealing free throws, Connaughton finished with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and was 3-for-5 behind the 3-point line. His contributions were reminiscent of last year’s finals run and Connaughton stepped up big to fill the void of Khris Middleton by scoring eight of his 13 points in the final frame.

Bobby Portis while not the most effective 14 points ever scored, just 4-of-14 on field goals, were all needed, including the go ahead layup off the offensive rebound from a Giannis Antetokounmpo missed free throw. Bobby also grabbed 15 rebounds to go with his 14 points, seven of which were offensive rebounds.

Mike Budenholzer opted to go with the athleticism of Bobby Portis rather than the defensive anchor Brook Lopez in the closing minutes of the game and it paid dividends with Bobby being able to snag the rebound and finish the go-ahead bucket. What shouldn’t be lost though is Portis’ ability to show high on ball screens and allowing defenders to get back to their assignments and then recover back to his own. Bobby Portis has shown time and time again that he has the motor for such defensive recoveries and it played a large part in the comeback.