The first game of the playoff series between Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks was an absolute fest. Both the teams showed some amazing defending in the game and offense was pretty hard to come by.
Both the teams wanted to kick start their post-season run on a high and eager to close out the game on multiple occasions.
While the Bucks were out to finally get some revenge against the rigid Heat, Miami was out there to prove their critics wrong and prove that they were a one-season wonder.
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Milwaukee Bucks take lead against Miami Heat
Given the size of the Bucks on the paint, the Heat were restricted to a perimeter based game. The Heat were pretty dominant from the three point line shooting 20 of the 50 attempted shots.
The Bucks meanwhile were limited to only 15 points from the three point line shooting 5 of 31 attempted shots. But with the size and players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez able to score one on one, the Bucks outscored the Miami Heat by 32 points in the paint.
Despite their different approaches, the Heat and the Bucks were pretty much tied for most of the game. Even though the Bucks had a 2 point lead with 9 seconds remaining on the clock, Jimmy Butler hit a buzzer beating layup to tie the game.
The teams couldn’t be separated in the OT as well. With 20 seconds remaining on the clock, the Bucks came had the last possession in the game. Khris Middleton had the ball. The 2-time All-Star went to work and with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock, made a contested Kobe-esque layup to give the Bucks the lead.
KHRIS MIDDLETON CALLS GAME IN OT
Bucks go up 1-0 pic.twitter.com/C4fMoz7gy9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2021
Miami meanwhile couldn’t recover from this shot and in a last ditch effort, Jimmy Butler attempted a three pointer which was ultimately blocked by Jrue Holiday. The Bucks will certainly treasure this hard earned 109-107 victory and will hope they start hitting their three pointers and have a comfortable series ahead.
Twitter reacts to Khris Middleton’s game winner
Given how iconic the Middleton shot was, twitter went absolutely ballistic after the game winner.
Middleton with the Kobe fader. Wow
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) May 22, 2021
khris middleton omg
— justin michael jerome (@JstnMchl) May 22, 2021
Giannis was HYPED after Holiday’s game-sealing block on Jimmy 🗣 pic.twitter.com/1RZTIOhfjJ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2021
Loved all of that. #Bucks #Heat #NBAPlayoffs
— Kaitlin Sharkey (@KRoseSharkey) May 22, 2021
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🔥🔥🔥🔥 I love playoff basketball
— Darius Miller (@DmillerKY) May 22, 2021
The Miami Pacers outscored the Bucks by 45 points from three.
They lost. pic.twitter.com/TwJMYsyHiw
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 22, 2021
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Given the great start the series has seen, we might be in for a cracker of a playoff battle. Who do you think will ultimately clinch the series, Milwaukee Bucks or Miami Heat? Let us know in the comments section down below.