Led by Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 132-98 to make their first-round series of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs 2-0.
Giannis overflowed with 31 points and 13 rebounds, seconded on offense by Bryn Forbes, with 22 points coming off the bench.
Other highlights on the Bucks were Khris Middleton, with 17 points, and Pat Connaughtoin, with 11 coming off the bench as well.
The Bucks, who finished third in the Eastern Conference, made 22 of 53 triples and outscored the Heat 61 to 36 in rebounding.
“A lot of times, there is so much talent in the league and so many good teams, sometimes you get the early lead and things just happen and it becomes a close game,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer. “Today we were able to stay focused.”
The Heat, sixth in the East and who had set a record in the first game with 20 triples, this Monday they only managed eight of 28 three-point attempts.
The Bucks produced a 3-point display in this landslide victory to take command of the series, whose third game will be on Thursday in Miami.
Forbes exploded in the first half with five triples and Antetokounmpo once again commanded the attack against the NBA runners-up last year.
The Bucks scored 22 on 53 three-point attempts and always led by Antetokounmpo, who scored the team’s first points.
After winning in overtime on Saturday in the first game of the series, the Bucks weren’t in the mood to leave anything to chance on Monday, scoring 46 points in the first quarter alone.
The Bucks made 15 of 29 three-point attempts in the first half, gaining a 30-plus-point lead over several spans of the game.
They always maintained a healthy cushion at all times, with the Heat unable to get anywhere near 20 points.
Antetokounmpo added 13 rebounds and six assists, while Forbes finished with 22 cards off the bench. Middleton added 17 points, including three triples, and six Bucks players made double-digit totals.
Dewayne Dedmon led Miami with 19 points off the bench, while Slovenian point guard Goran Dragic added 18 points.
Power forward Bam Adebayo was limited to 16 points while Jimmy Butler had just 10 points. (GG) (AFP)