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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

The tone of Bucks vs Celtics game 7 was set with Marcus Smart face-planting on the floor while trying to block Giannis from scoring an open bucket. The match was going to be an absolute street fight.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks today to advance to the Western Conference finals. They successfully defended two elimination games against the defending champions.

Celtics’ 109-81 victory over the Bucks at TD Garden was a defensive masterclass. Boston’s elite defense restricted Milwaukee to shooting 36.7% from the field and only four 3-pointers.

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Marcus Smart falls face-first after colliding with Giannis Antetokounmpo

The game started as a closely contested matchup. At about 2 minutes remaining in the first quarter, Giannis stormed the basket in a Bucks fast-break attempt. He tried to side-step a defender while Marcus Smart jumped to block his imminent shot.

Giannis lost his balance and fell to the ground, sweeping Smart’s feet from?mid-air, which resulted in the Celtics guard falling face-first on the wood. The impact made a sharp thud which made the crowd wince.

However, Smart got up on his feet pretty quickly and was soon good to go. The home crowd applauded his recovery with resounding enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Celtics fans averted a big injury scare in the situation. One fan took a jibe at Giannis on Twitter, “After Giannis recklessly submarines Marcus Smart, Brad Marchand has been suspended 3 games“.

As usual, the DPOY Marcus Smart did an excellent job on the defensive end despite his early injury scare.

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Incidentally, this is not the first time Smart and Antetokounmpo clashed in the series. In fact, in game 4 the two found each other tangled on the ground at the end of a play.

Smart offered a hand to pull Giannis up. The Greek freak tried to pull down the Celtics guard to the ground in return.

The brief banter between the two provided a bit of a comic relief amidst an intense matchup.

The Celtics restrict the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense

As Grant Williams and Jayson Tatum kept it going on the offensive end, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown held it down defensively.

The assignment to guard a juggernaut like Giannis is no joke. But the Celtics did a pretty good job.

USA Today via Reuters

Giannis had 25 points, 9 assists, and 20 boards, with 10-of-26 from the field. A 40-point game from him could’ve upended the game for the Celtics.

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But Boston played smart and efficient basketball. They made clean shots, drew smart fouls, and locked down the Bucks on the defensive end.

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Marcus Smart deserves praise for a performance worthy of a Defensive Player of the Year.

The Celtics will play the Miami Heat in the Western Conference finals.