Portis eager to prove his worth after getting big contract
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis says his new contract won't change the blue-collar approach that helped him earn the big payday. After declining a $4.55 million player option to become a free agent, Portis agreed to a four-year, $49 million deal that keeps him in Milwaukee. But he takes issue with the notion that the long-term deal brings him a sense of security. “My mindset is always going to be that someone is trying to take my spot and I have to go hard each and every day to show why I’m worth what I’m worth,” Portis said Thursday.
news.yahoo.comWilliams has 27, Celtics make 22 3s in Game 7 rout of Bucks
Grant Williams scored a career-high 27 points and hit seven 3-pointers, Jayson Tatum added 23 and the Boston Celtics set a Game 7 record with 22 3-pointers to eliminate the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks 109-81 on Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Bucks edge Celtics 103-101 after frantic final second
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 42 points and made the go-ahead basket with 44.3 seconds left and the Milwaukee Bucks withstood a frantic flurry of shots in the final seconds to beat the Boston Celtics 103-101 on Saturday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal.
Healthy Lopez gives Bucks major size advantage against Bulls
The silver lining to the back injury that sidelined Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez for most of the season is that it made him fresher for the playoffs. The 7-footer is healthy now and eager to help the Bucks defend their title. Lopez also was a big part of a defense that held Chicago to the lowest point total of any Bucks opponent all season.
news.yahoo.comPistons fall to Bucks in home finale despite career-night from Rodney McGruder
DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons looked to bid farewell to Little Caesars Arena on a positive note. After thumping the Pistons 30-8 in the first quarter, the Bucks kept up the pressure to down the Pistons 131-101. The Bucks quickly got out to a 10-point lead as the Pistons struggled to get their shots to fall. The Bucks ended the night making nearly 50 percent of their overall field goals. The Pistons ended the first, making just three of their 21 overall field goal attempts and went 0-of-14 from the three-point line.
mlive.comUSA Basketball picks 57 players for men's Tokyo Games pool
USA Basketball is a step closer to choosing the team that will play in this summer’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, releasing the names Thursday of 57 players who are part of the pool to fill the squad. It’s also already drawing major interest from some NBA stars who have yet to taste Olympic gold. USA Basketball will pare the list to a 12-person Olympic team by early summer. Jordan, who now plays for Brooklyn, is also a newcomer to the pool even though he was on the 2016 Olympic team. “But for USA Basketball to receive the commitment of so many outstanding players remains an indicator of the great honor of representing your country means to these men.”
Antetokounmpo, Bucks rally late to to beat Clippers 105-100
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)MILWAUKEE – Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks showed they can still rally in the fourth quarter to win games with their defense. Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and sparked a game-closing 9-0 run as the Bucks rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-100 on Sunday for their fifth consecutive victory. The Bucks generally haven’t performed quite as well on defense this season but stifled the Clippers down the stretch. Bucks: Antetokounmpo has scored at least 35 points in four straight games, making him the first Bucks player to accomplish that feat since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from Jan. 6-14, 1973.
Gobert, Jazz beat Bucks 129-115 for 6th straight win
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) pulls down a rebound as Milwaukee Bucks guard D.J. Augustin, rear, looks on in the second half during an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)SALT LAKE CITY – Rudy Gobert had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz beat the Milwaukee Bucks 129-115 on Friday night for their sixth straight victory. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 of his 29 points in the second half, but Milwaukee dropped its second straight game after a five-game win streak. The Jazz packed the paint all game on defense and picked up two defensive 3-second violations along the way.
Bucks’ 3-point powerhouse and other takeaways from Pistons’ loss
The Bucks unleashed center Brook Lopez early in the game as the Pistons focused much of their attention on subduing Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the first quarter, Lopez sunk all three of his 3-point attempts to give the Bucks a big lift to start the game. Jackson showed a spark in the loss to the Utah Jazz Sunday but Wednesday’s game against the Bucks was Lee’s opportunity to shine. He showed he’s willing to take risks with a poster dunk attempt on Lopez in the fourth. Sekou Doumbouya’s absence: For the first time this season, the second-year Pistons forward did not play.
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