Rob Issa, FISM News
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No Giannis was no problem for one game for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Playing without two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks beat the Miami Heat 138-122 on Wednesday to even their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at one game each.
Brook Lopez scored 25 points and Jrue Holiday had 24 for the Bucks, who matched an NBA record for 3-pointers in a game by shooting 25-of-49 from 3-point range.
“Everyone’s ready,” Lopez said. “Everyone has the right mentality coming into the game — the mentality it takes to be a Milwaukee Buck. There’s no one above anyone else. We’re just out there trying to win.”
Pat Connaughton scored a playoff career-high 22 points, including six 3s, after sitting out Game 1 as coaching decision.
Antetokounmpo didn’t play because of a bruised lower back that he sustained in the first half of the first game. He was hurt on a hard fall after getting fouled driving to the basket.
“We’ll continue to monitor him and expect for him to improve and still continue to be optimistic that soon he’ll be ready to play,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
Jimmy Butler led Miami with 25 points and Duncan Robinson scored 14 points filling in for the injured Tyler Herro.
Game 3 is Saturday in Miami.
“I would like to be up 2-0, but that’s in the past now,” Butler said. “So we’re taking it to the crib, and we’ve got to handle business on our home floor.”
In Memphis, the Grizzlies also found a way to win without their superstar.
Xavier Tillman scored a career-high 22 points and had 13 rebounds to help the Grizzlies defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 103-93 to even their first-round Western Conference series at 1-1.
Two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant didn’t play because of a bruised right hand but his teammates picked up the slack against LeBron James and the Lakers.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 18 points for Memphis, Desmond Bane had 17, and Tyus Jones had 10 points and eight assists in place of Morant.
“Obviously, this is a big win for us,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “You know, great performance from him (Tillman), other guys as well.”
James led the Lakers with 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Rui Hachimura had 20 points. Anthony Davis shot only going 4 of 14 and finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
For James, it was his 103rd career playoff game with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He tied Tim Duncan for fourth-most all-time.
“They’re just as dangerous a team when Tyus is starting,” James said. “They don’t miss a beat, and we knew that. No matter if Ja’s in the game. If Ja’s starting, dangerous. If Tyus is starting, dangerous. It didn’t change our approach.”
Game 3 is Saturday in Los Angeles.
In Denver, Jamal Murray scored 40 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 16 and the Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-113 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series.
Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic added 27 points, nine assists and nine rebounds for the Nuggets, who trailed 89-87 heading into the fourth quarter after wasting a 21-point lead.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 41 points.
“We knew at some point we’d see the aggressive, attacking Timberwolves,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “In that third quarter we saw it and they played great and we didn’t defend in the third quarter, but I was proud of how we responded in that fourth quarter.”
The series shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Friday night.
“We can’t wait until we go down 20 or 15 in the first half and try to figure out how to get back into the game,” Edwards said. “If we found something tonight, we’ve got to stick with it first quarter.”