Page 19 - aruba-today-20190429

A19
SPORTS Monday 29 april 2019
Irving, Horford lead Celtics

past Bucks 112-90 in opener

By RICH ROVITO night," Budenholzer said. won eight championships
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Al Hor- "He's hard on himself, so during Havlicek's 16 sea-
ford stood his ground as there will probably be some sons with the Celtics. Hav-
Giannis Antetokounmpo point where I put my arms licek was the MVP of the
charged his way. around him and tell him, 1974 NBA Finals when the
Antetokounmpo, the Mil- 'You're going to be great.'" Celtics defeated the Bucks
waukee Bucks' MVP candi- Khris Middleton had 16 for in Game 7 at the MECCA
date, desperately wanted Milwaukee, which com- in Milwaukee. A moment
to provide a spark and cut pleted a four-game sweep of silence was held before
into a second-half lead of the Detroit Pistons on tipoff. ... G Marcus Smart
against Horford's Boston Monday and advanced traveled to Milwaukee but
Celtics in the opener of a to the second round of the wasn't in uniform. Smart has Boston Celtics' Al Horford is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis
second-round playoff se- playoffs for the first time been out since suffering a Antetokounmpo during the second half of Game 1 of a second
round NBA basketball playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2019, in
ries on Sunday. He drove since 2001. The Celtics left oblique tear on April 7. Milwaukee.
hard into the lane, quickly came off a sweep of their Smart has been practic- Associated Press
switched directions and own against Indiana. ing with the team but isn't
tried to lay the ball up over The Celtics knocked Mil- expected play in Game 2 seems awfully aggressive," colm Brogdon, who is re-
Horford, who met him at waukee out of the playoffs either. "I don't see any way Stevens said. ....F/C Aron covering from a partially
the rim and blocked the in seven games last year, that he's available until Baynes left the game in the torn plantar fascia in his
shot. winning the final game at what we thought initially, third quarter after rolling his right foot, remained out but
Antetokounmpo corralled home. This year, Milwau- four to six (weeks) and I left ankle. took part in shooting drills
the ball and went up a sec- kee is the top seed in the said at the start that four Bucks: Starting guard Mal- before the game.q
ond time only to be met East and has home-court
by Horford again, who this advantage throughout the
time spiked the ball to the postseason after posting
court. the NBA's best record, but
The Celtics clamped down Boston didn't play like an
on Antetokounmpo all underdog in any way.
game and cruised past the The Celtics jumped out ear-
Bucks, 112-90. ly, leading by as many as
"Our focus was to make 11 in the opening quarter.
sure that we just made it Boston shot 52% while the
tough on him every time, Bucks shot only 5 of 19.
just making sure he earned The shooting woes contin-
everything he got," Horford ued for the Bucks until mid-
said. "I felt like we did a way through the second
pretty good job of that." quarter, when Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving had 26 points used a 15-0 run to pull even
and 11 assists, tying his at 40. The teams then trad-
playoff career high, and ed baskets with the Celtics
Horford added 20 points grabbing a 52-50 lead at
and 11 rebounds to pace the half.
Boston, which controlled Boston used a 9-0 run in the
the game for long stretch- third quarter to again build
es while playing stingy a double-digit lead, which
defense against Antetok- grew to as much as 21 as
ounmpo. Milwaukee again failed to
Jaylen Brown chipped in make shots.
with 19 points and Gordon "This is a hard team to play
Hayward had 13 off the against," Celtics coach
bench for the Celtics. Brad Stevens said. "That
Antetokounmpo scored 22 wasn't their best game."
points but shot just 7 for 21. Irving thinks the Celtics
He didn't make his first field have been rounding into
goal until the first minute of shape in the playoffs after
the second quarter. an uneven regular season.
"It was one of the tough- "We were dealing with our
est losses we've ever had, ups and downs, but I think
all season, especially at we just have an apprecia-
home," Antetokounmpo tion for the group that we
said. have," he said.
Game 2 is Tuesday in Mil- TIP-INS
waukee. Celtics: Boston players wore
Bucks coach Mike Buden- a black stripe with the No.
holzer is expecting his star 17 on their jerseys to honor
player to bounce back. Hall of Famer John Hav-
"As great as he's been, he licek, who died Thursday
hasn't been perfect every at the age of 79. The team