Mike Budenholzer actually let his star players play star minutes, as Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo both went well over 40 minutes in the Bucks’ Game 3 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. Next come three days off in the series, with Game 4 set for Sunday afternoon in the Cream City. In the other Eastern Conference semifinal, Philadelphia heads to Atlanta for Game 3 after riding Joel Embiid to a win in Game 2.
Let’s take a look at the next game in both of these Eastern Conference series as you consider your weekend NBA betting.
NBA News: Eastern Conference Games (June 11-13)
Friday, June 11
Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks
Game 3 (7:30 pm ET, ESPN) | Series tied, 1-1
After Atlanta pulled off a 128-124 upset in Game 1, Joel Embiid came out ready to lead his team in Game 2. He ended up with 40 points and 13 rebounds in the Sixers’ 118-102 win. Shake Milton had 14 points on the night, including a 32-foot three-ball, gaining some redemption after a dreadful first round, when he averaged just 3.4 points per game against the Wizards. Milton has come on mightily as a sixth man at different times this season.
Things weren’t always easy for Philadelphia, as they went up by 21 in the early going, only for Atlanta to come all the way back to take an 80-79 lead in the third period. Milton came on, doing all of his damage after Atlanta’s comeback. That long-distance three-ball ended the third, putting Philadelphia up by seven. Milton helped the team complete a 14-0 run to put the game out of reach. Now the series shifts to Atlanta, where the Hawks were able to dig a big hole for the Knicks. How will the 76ers fare?
Final Prediction:
Philadelphia 107, Atlanta 100
Sunday, June 13
Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks
Game 4 (3:00 pm ET, ABC) | Nets lead, 2-1
The score from Game 3 — an 86-83 Bucks win — brought back memories of old-school Eastern Conference battles from the 1980s and 1990s, when players like Bill Laimbeer and John Salley turned the paint into a blur of elbows, hip checks and the occasional scrum. However, this wasn’t a physical game — it was just one in which neither team could buy a bucket. The teams combined for 14 three-balls made on the night; during the regular season, Brooklyn averaged 14 ½ makes per game all by themselves. One problem was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s eight attempts from downtown. He made one, which made the Nets look smart by leaving him open behind the arc. Antetokounmpo’s proper role is controlling the paint against an iffy defense; inside the arc, he was 13 of 23. Those decisions need to be better in Game 4.
Consider what Bruce Brown has been able to do for the Nets, starting in relief of the injured James Harden (hamstring). He sets picks for KD and Kyrie and then heads to the rim. This is the play that Antetokounmpo should be running time and time again for Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. However, he only serves as the roll-man on the pick-and-roll 7 percent of the time in these playoffs, despite the fact that he scores 1.21 points per possession when he fulfills that role. We keep hearing what a transcendent Antetokounmpo is, but what worked against Miami isn’t working against Brooklyn, and if the Bucks bow out early, this will be laid at Antetokounmpo’s door.
Final Prediction:
Bucks 108, Nets 102
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