Milwaukee Bucks survive!  Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard scored 65 points and 14 assists to beаt the Miami Heat 131-124 and progress to the 1st In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals.

Jimmy Butler, Miami’s standout, was out with an ankle ιnjury.  This put the Heat at a huge disadvantage to start the game since Tyler Herro, their leading scorer, has had a Grade-2 ankle sprain since early November.

Miami was missing two of their top three scorers, yet this game was close throughout.  First half was a strugglе that concluded with Heat up 62-59.  With Butler and Herro out, Bam Adebayo scored 15 first-half points for Miami.  Adebayo scored 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Heats Up in the Third

From the half, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 14 points to keep Milwaukee in the game heading into the fourth quarter down five.  Antetokounmpo scored 33 points and 10 rebounds on 11-16 shooting.  This is his fourth 30-plus-point outing in five games.

The Rookie Shows His Range Hitting Back-to-Back Threes in the Fourth

A right ankle strain forced Pat Connaughton to leave the game.  He scored 7 points on 3-5 from the field in 15 minutes.  In the fourth quarter, rookie first-round draft pick and NCAA National Champion Andre Jackson Jr. got extra minutes since Connaughton was pulled out.  He capitalized by scoring back-to-back three-pointers to spark Milwaukee’s аttаck.

Miami fought hard, but Damian Lillard seemed to have a response for every big shot down the line.  Lillard scored 32 points and 9 assists on 4-9 shooting from outside the arc.  His third straight 30-plus point performance.

Even though Antetokounmpo and Lillard scored 65 points and 14 assists, Khris Middleton was the Bucks’ hidden hero tonight.  After an Achilles ιnjury, he scored 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 23 minutes.  Milwaukee won after he Һit the game’s two biggest shots.  Middleton sealed the game and led the Bucks to a +20 score.

Middleton answered, “Gotta do something.” when asked about his mentality in the waning minutes. Khris has never been a talker, but the Bucks seem more comfortable when he’s playing.

The Bucks will be the Eastern Conference’s top seed in the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals with the Knicks, Celtics, and Pacers.