It might take a while to breath normally after witnessing an epic Game 5 thriller between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
Despite the Celtics leading and controlling the majority of the game, the Bucks stormed back in the fourth quarter to steal a crucial 110-107 win on the road and take a commanding 3-2 series lead.
Milwaukee will now have a chance to eliminate Boston in Game 6 at home and advance to its second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals. Following a resilient Game 5 win, let’s dive into three takeaways for the Bucks as the campaign to repeat as NBA Champions continues to be an eventful experience.
The Milwaukee Bucks are showcasing their championship resiliency once again
During last season’s title-winning run, the Milwaukee Bucks’ ultimate team resiliency was on full display whether it was overcoming the Brooklyn Nets in seven games, knocking out the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals without Giannis Antetokounmpo, or winning four straight games after going down 0-2 against the Phoenix Suns to make history in the NBA Finals. Well, the resilient Bucks struck again on Wednesday night.
After trailing by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, the Milwaukee Bucks triumphantly came all the way back to shock the Celtics at TD Garden and earn the hard-fought Game 5 win. Thanks to more brilliant superstardom from the reigning Finals MVP, hardcore perseverance, and multiple clutch moments within the last minute, the Bucks put together a mesmerizing come-from-behind victory.
It seemed like the Khris Middleton-less Bucks were shot in the dark in the early stages of the final quarter and again when Al Horford delivered a vicious put-back slam dunk with just over two minutes remaining, but if there’s anything that we’ve learned over the last two years, it’s that this team should never be counted out. Milwaukee has shown time and time again that they will never quit. They’re the defending champions for a reason and will never shy away from a little adversity.
P.J. Tucker’s “dawg mentality” and toughness were a major part of the Bucks’ resiliency last year but even though he’s no longer with the team, head coach Mike Budenholzer’s squad has only maintained its resilient soul in these playoffs. The Milwaukee Bucks still have the pure heart, fight, and elasticity that molds their championship DNA.
Jrue Holiday’s defensive prowess saved the day for the Milwaukee Bucks
In the last 42 seconds of Game 5, Jrue Holiday took control. Holiday proceeded to drain a game-tying 3-point bucket before an eventual game-winning block and game-winning steal on Marcus Smart to seal the jaw-dropping comeback victory for the Milwaukee Bucks.
TWO HUGE DEFENSIVE PLAYS BY JRUE 🔒🔒
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2022
BUCKS GO UP 3-2. pic.twitter.com/qx678hYiLf
Holiday has struggled to find his rhythm offensively against the Boston Celtics this series as he’s been inefficient with his shot for the most part, but his one-of-a-kind defensive abilities for a guard will always be underappreciated. Jrue should be in a tier of his own when it comes to the best defenders across guards in the league.
Smart won the Defensive Player of the Year Award this season with the Celtics. However, Jrue Holiday has proved all series long that he’s the better defender and one of the most talented defenders in the NBA. Those two plays down the stretch to win the game for the Bucks was just another reminder of his elite defensive skill set.
Along with his game-winning defensive moments that will be recalled upon in Milwaukee for a long, long time, Holiday tallied 24 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, shot 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and was a team-high plus-14 on the stat sheet. Aside from some poor shot selection and inefficient shooting in the interior, it was a stellar performance from Jrue Holiday that reminded the world of his “knocked away and stolen by Holiday” sequence during his Game 5 masterclass in last year’s NBA Finals.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s determined drive is inspiring the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks’ ever-growing superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to punish the Celtics with his dominant scoring and playmaking ability, but his non-stop motor and desperate desire to win is what’s striving the Bucks toward success.
In Game 5, Antetokounmpo dropped an efficient 40 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, one block, one steal, two threes, and shot 59.2 percent from the field across 40 minutes. It was easily the most efficient outing for Giannis throughout this series.
He’s beginning to figure out how to best break down this versatile Boston defense and it’s blossoming at the perfect time. Regardless of the score, the two-time MVP will always keep his foot on the gas pedal, never give up, and fight with literal blood, sweat, and tears until that final buzzer sounds.
Antetokounmpo’s heart is as desirable as it comes for a star athlete, and it continues to serve as the beating heart of the Milwaukee Bucks. To no surprise, his relentless effort was the main catalyst in inspiring the Bucks to chase down the Celtics in Game 5.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is now averaging 33.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game through five games of this electrifying series against the Boston Celtics. He’s clearly identified himself as the best player in the world, and his resilience, perseverance, and drive will consistently carry the Milwaukee Bucks toward mountain-high success.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics will head back to the Cream City for a crucial Game 6, and be sure to catch the action at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.