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A32 sports
Dialuna 19 Juli 2021

Balance, grit put Bucks on verge of 1st title in 50 years

(AP) — Giannis Antetok- least 120 points in six play- generally is the most demon-
ounmpo believes it’s the off games, but they probably strative cheerleader among
tenacity of the Bucks that never would have gotten this Bucks reserves. Giannis
has Milwaukee a game far without gutting out an could only imagine how his
away from its first cham- 86-83 Game 3 victory over brother reacted during Game
pionship in a half century. the Brooklyn Nets after fall- 5.
ing behind 2-0 in that sec-
That persistence has enabled ond-round series. They shot “He’s probably screaming
the Bucks to rally from a 2-0 57.5% on Saturday but also in front of the TV,” Giannis
deficit in the NBA Finals. made the game-clinching Antetokounmpo said. “Prob-
The Bucks lead the Phoe- steal after Phoenix rallied. ably in the last possession, he
nix Suns 3-2 as they return probably took his shirt off
home to seek a potential title- “I do think that we always and started playing defense,
clinching victory in Game 6 have our mindset on de- sweating, jumping on the
on Tuesday. fense,” Holiday said. “But bed.”
when we get rolling on both
“I feel like we don’t stop,” ends, I feel like that’s where SHOWTIME FOR
Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve In their 109-103 Game 3 and made him turn his back, we kind of get into our BUCKS EMPLOYEES
been a part of different teams. victory, the Bucks owned a and he turned right into me. groove.” While the two teams traveled
Usually when you’re down two-point lead when Ante- I guess I was just in the right on Sunday, Bucks and Fiserv
15 or 16 or whatever, down tokounmpo blocked a De- place at the right time.” They’re in that groove now Forum president Peter Feigin
0-2 or whatever the case andre Ayton dunk attempt and are a win away from ac- invited his team’s staff em-
might be, you kind of like with just over a minute left. The Bucks paid a heavy complishing something this ployees to attend a screening
stop. You kind of like, you They were still up only two price to acquire Holiday as franchise hasn’t done since of “Space Jam: A New Lega-
kind of stop competing in a when Jrue Holiday stole the they tried to take the next Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and cy” at a suburban Milwaukee
way. But I feel like this team, ball from Chris Paul to spark step after posting the NBA’s Oscar Robertson helped de- theater.
we don’t do that.” a fastbreak that resulted in a best regular-season record liver Milwaukee a champion-
Khris Middleton layup with in 2018-19 and 2019-20 but ship in 1971. The film is directed by Mal-
The Bucks took the finals 27.2 seconds remaining. failing to reach the finals each colm Lee, who has been a
lead with a 123-119 Game 5 of those years. “But the job is not done,” good friend of Feigin since
victory in Phoenix that show- Holiday delivered again Sat- Antetokounmpo said. “We they were both 10 years old.
cased their impressive bal- urday after the Suns slashed Holiday responded by earn- have to realize that. We have They grew up in New York
ance. a 108-94 fourth-quarter defi- ing first-team All-Defensive got to stay in the present.” playing basketball together
cit to a single point. Holiday honors. He’s played out- with Feigin’s twin brother,
Milwaukee averaged120.1 stripped the ball from Devin standing defense throughout BROTHERLY Daniel Feigin.
points per game in the regular Booker, dribbled downcourt the finals but struggled to CONCERN
season to become the NBA’s and threw a lob to Antetok- shoot before coming through Antetokounmpo celebrated Lee attended Game 4 in Mil-
highest-scoring team since ounmpo, who dunked while with 27 points and 13 assists the Bucks’ victory Saturday waukee.
1983-84, when the Denver getting fouled with 13.5 sec- Saturday. by communicating via Face-
Nuggets and San Antonio onds left. Time with older brother and “As coincidence happens, it’s
Spurs both exceeded that His presence alongside An- reserve forward Thanasis An- probably one of the biggest
average. But they’ve pulled “Honestly, it was great team tetokounmpo and Middle- tetokounmpo, who wasn’t at period of days in both of our
ahead in this series by deliv- defense,” Holiday said. “I feel ton enables the Bucks to win the arena due to NBA health lives with the Bucks in the
ering memorable defensive like we knew Booker want- games in a variety of ways. and safety protocols. NBA Finals and he’s pre-
plays. ed to take that last shot and miering his first big tentpole
played great defense on him The Bucks have scored at Thanasis Antetokounmpo movie,” Feigin said.

Pads beat Nats 10-4, complete game suspended after shooting

(AP) — Four San Diego The teams were to play the The game was halted Sat- fielder Juan Soto’s throwing in the sixth to push the lead
relievers combined to regularly scheduled game urday night with the Padres error on the play. back to four runs. Machado
toss four scoreless innings later in the day. leading 8-4 in the middle of had three hits and two RBIs.
and the Padres defeated the sixth inning. Ryan Zimmerman homered
the Washington Nation- Fernando Tatis Jr. had his for the Nationals, who have TRAINER’S ROOM
als 10-4 Sunday in the third four-hit game of the When the shots were heard, lost six straight and 11 of 13. Padres: RHP Yu Darvish (left
completion of a game sus- season and scored twice it was not immediately clear hip inflammation) threw a
pended the previous night for the Padres, and Tommy where they were coming Reliever Craig Stammen (4- bullpen session and remains
because of a shooting out- Pham had three hits and two from. Tatis was one of several 2) pitched a scoreless fifth on track to pitch Monday
side the stadium. walks. Padres who helped shepherd inning for the win. Starter at Atlanta. … LHP Drew
fans from the stands into the Blake Snell, who missed his Pomeranz (forearm inflam-
San Diego dugout for shel- last start due to a digestive is- mation) was reinstated form
ter in what became a chaotic sue, was reinstated from the the 10-day injured list.
scene as the crowd scrambled injured list Saturday and al-
for safety. lowed four runs on six hits Nationals: Manager Dave
and four walks in four in- Martinez said RHP Stephen
The shooting, an exchange nings. Strasburg (neck strain) felt
of gunfire between people some neck discomfort after
in two cars, left three people Ha Seong-Kim’s two-run throwing a simulated game
injured, Ashan Benedict, the double gave Snell a 5-1 lead July 9. After taking a few days
Metropolitan Police Depart- in the third, but in the bottom off, Strasburg played long-
ment’s executive assistant half Zimmerman snapped an distance catch on Friday and
police chief, said Saturday 0-for-15 skid with a three- felt better. … RHP Joe Ross
night. run homer to center. (right elbow inflammation)
is still feeling discomfort and
Pham singled in a run in the San Diego got RBI singles will not make his scheduled
seventh after play resumed from Tatis, Jake Cronen- start on Tuesday.
and a second scored on right worth and Manny Machado