The Milwaukee Bucks were able to stave off elimination with a 97-86 Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday (AEDT).
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Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with a game-high 31 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Both Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points apiece in the victory.
Jayson Tatum and Terry Rozier finished with 22 and 16 points respectively.
Game 7 is now set for Sunday (AEDT) in Boston with tip-off at 10:00 a.m.
Here are three takeaways from the Bucks' season-saving Game 6 win.
Easy baskets
The Bucks and more specifically Giannis Antetkounmpo are at their best when they get out on the break and gets easy baskets. In Game 6 with their back against the wall, they were able to get 25 fast-break points.
46 of their 94 points came in the paint. Milwaukee was in the bottom half of the league this season in three-point percentage (36%), and its well known that their best player doesn't have much interest in the long ball - but If they can go to Boston and continue to get easy buckets, they'll put themselves in a good position to steal Game 7.
Matchups
With the Bucks putting Thon Maker on the floor, Al Horford has been forced to match up with Antektounmpo. Horford who's a pretty solid defender simply can't match up with Giannis. Down the stretch of Friday's game, the Celtics defence was forced into scramble mode many times down the stretch as the Greek Freak continued to find his way to the hole.
Coming into Game 6 on Friday, the Bucks were amongst the worst of the playoff team in getting to the line. In Game 7 they need to exploit their matchup advantage when they go small and try to slow the game down at the free throw line.
Offence
The Celtics struggled at times this season on the offensive end to get shots, even when Kyrie Irving was healthy. Without him, they at times appear as though they can't get a shot off. When Horford gets the pass early in possessions the ball seems to move fluidly and it allows Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum more shape to operate.
When Horford isn't at the point forward, it's Terry Rozier who has to break down a very stingy Bucks defence off the bounce.
Brad Stevens puts it simply when he describes our offense tonight: "I thought anytime we got stagnant, we weren't very good."
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 27, 2018
Without ball movement, Boston won't go far in these playoffs. The magic number for the Celtics seems to be 20 - in two of their three losses this series Boston has failed to get at least 20 assists. In all of their wins in this series they've had at least 20 dimes.
Ball movement will be crucial in Game 7.
