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A16 sports
Tuesday 17 May 2022
Tiring Giannis, Bucks fall short in NBA title repeat bid

By JIMMY GOLEN ounmpo averaged 29.9
AP Sports Writer points, 11.6 rebounds and
Giannis Antetokounmpo 5.8 assists this season. He
powered his way to the rim, was second in scoring, sixth
trying to keep the Milwau- in rebounds and third in the
kee Bucks’ title defense MVP voting while leading
alive. Again and again, the Milwaukee to 51 wins and
ball just wouldn’t drop. a No. 3 seed in the Eastern
Layups, putbacks — shots Conference.
that are usually automatic The defending champions
for the two-time MVP and eliminated the Bulls in five
reigning NBA champion — games and opened a 3-2
bounced fruitlessly away. lead in the second round.
And the Bucks kept drop- But the Celtics ran away
ping further behind. with Game 6 in Milwau-
“I’d rather miss a bunch of kee, and did it again in the
shots and keep playing, clincher.
keep coming and keep Without No. 2 scorer Khris
being aggressive ... than Middleton, who missed
go into passive mode,” the the series with sprained left
Bucks star said after the knee ligaments, Budenhol-
Celtics won Game 7 of the zer relied heavily on his star.
Eastern Conference semi- Antetokounmpo played 21
finals 109-81 on Sunday to Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, disagrees with a call during the second of 24 minutes in the first half,
end Milwaukee’s hopes of half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff series against the all of the third quarter and
Boston Celtics, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Boston.
back-to-back titles. Associated Press only came out in the fourth
“I can live with that. I can for garbage time.
live with giving everything the fourth quarter -- four of series for the record books, fensive team, against a lot It was his fourth straight
for the game,” Antetok- them from inside of 6 feet. recording a triple-double in of good individual defend- game playing more than
ounmpo said. “Shots that Asked if his legs were heavy Game 1 and missing one ers, was like another one 40 minutes.
I usually make weren’t go- after playing a season-high in the finale by a single as- of those growth moments, “We definitely played those
ing in. But that’s basketball. 43 minutes, 9 seconds — in- sist. He scored 40 or more growth opportunities,” guys out for as long and as
That’s sports. ... You’ve just cluding all of the second points three times, and had Bucks coach Mike Buden- much as we could. Maybe
got to live with it.” half until the game was 20 rebounds twice. holzer said.”I thought he that had some small im-
One year after leading out of reach — Antetok- Over the seven games, he was phenomenal. His scor- pact on it,” Budenholzer
Milwaukee to the NBA ti- ounmpo said: “Legs heavy. averaged 29.6 points, 14.7 ing, his attacking, his play- said.
tle and being voted finals Body heavy. Mind heavy. rebounds and 7.1 assists. making, his unselfishness,” “Some nights the ball, you
MVP, Antetokounmpo and Everything was heavy.” He is the first player in NBA he said. “I was beyond im- just can’t get it in the bas-
the Bucks wilted in the final “I was just trying to be ag- history to record 200 points, pressed.” ket. ... It would have been
quarter of their final game. gressive,” he added. “At 100 rebounds and 50 assists After winning his first NBA great if we’d make a few
The Greek Freak scored the end of the day, it’s in a playoff series. title — and the Bucks’ first more, whether it’s layups
25 points with 20 rebounds Game 7 and I’m not go- “The way Giannis evolved since Kareem Abdul-Jab- or open 3’s and things like
and nine assists in all, but he ing to hold the ball and not throughout this series, bar (then still Lew Alcindor) that, or shots that were
shot 10 for 26 in the game, look at the rim.” the way Giannis played led them to the champi- in and out, but that’s the
missing six of seven shots in Antetokounmpo still had a against a very good de- onship in 1971 — Antetok- sport.”q

AP source: Browns QB Watson to meet

with NFL reps in Texas

the league’s representa- “We have no update and trade to Cleveland.
tives in Texas, said the per- will decline comment on The Browns, who sent three
son who spoke to the AP that tweet,” league spokes- first-round draft picks and
on condition of anonymity man Brian McCarthy said in six total selections to the
because of the sensitivity of an email to the AP. “There’s Texans for Watson, are ea-
the situation. no timetable as the review ger to find out if they’ll be
Watson is facing potential is active and ongoing.” without him for any portion
discipline by the league, Watson’s attorney, Rusty of this season after making
Cleveland Browns new quarterback Deshaun Watson speaks which is independently Hardin, told the AP he will such a major investment in
during a news conference at the NFL football team’s training investigating his actions leave it to the NFL to discuss the three-time Pro Bowler.
facility, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. while he was with the Hous- its schedule of interviews, In March, two Texas grand
Associated Press ton Texans. Commissioner but he assumes that “Wat- juries declined to indict
By TOM WITHERS conduct policy, a person Roger Goodell said as re- son will be interviewed at Watson on criminal com-
AP Sports Writer familiar with the plans told cently as April 28 at the great length soon.” plaints from 10 women. He
CLEVELAND (AP) — NFL of- The Associated Press on NFL draft that there was no The meeting with league has denied all wrongdo-
ficials will meet this week Monday. timeframe on any possible officials is a significant de- ing and said during a news
with Cleveland Browns Watson, who is facing 22 ruling on Watson. velopment for Watson, conference with the Browns
quarterback Deshaun Wat- civil lawsuits from mas- Reporter Josina Ander- who signed a fully guaran- in April that he “never as-
son as the league contin- sage therapists accusing son was first to report the teed $230 million contract saulted or disrespected or
ues to investigate whether him of sexual misconduct, planned meeting on Twit- in March with the Browns harassed any woman in my
he violated its personal is scheduled to speak with ter. after initially turning down a life.”q