On Sunday, the Milwaukee Bucks endured
their worst 3-point effort in just over a year.
Go figure.
The Bucks made a record 29 3-pointers in
their 144-97 romp past the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat on
Tuesday night. They shot 29 for 51 from deep, two nights after going 7 for 38
in a loss to New York.
“Some nights, the basketball gods are with
you a little bit,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It’s probably one of
those nights.”
Milwaukee used 13 players and 12 made at
least one 3-pointer — the only exception being two-time reigning MVP Giannis
Antetokounmpo. Khris Middleton had four 3′s and scored 25 points, Jrue Holiday
made six 3′s in his 24-point night and Donte DiVincenzo was 5-for-6 from deep
to finish with 17 points.
Antetokounmpo had only nine points. But his
brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo — who was 0 for 11 from 3-point range in his
career entering the night — got into the act and made one from deep.
“I knew we were shooting well,” said Bucks
center Brook Lopez, who made three 3′s. “I didn’t know we were anything close
to that.”
The record-breaker was made by Sam Merrill,
who got the 28th 3-pointer with 6:07 remaining, giving the Bucks a 131-86 lead.
The previous record for 3’s in a game was
27, set by the Houston Rockets against the Phoenix Suns on April 7, 2019.
Milwaukee’s previous most was 22, against Sacramento on Nov. 4, 2018. The most
previously allowed in a game by Miami was 24, on Feb. 5 against the Los Angeles
Clippers.
Milwaukee was up 10-0 after 78 seconds,
21-3 after about four minutes, and the tone was set in the first meeting
between the teams since last season’s playoffs, when the Heat eliminated the
Bucks in five games.
“It looked like they have been thinking
about this game for 80 days,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Milwaukee led 46-26 after one quarter,
83-51 at the half.
Tyler Herro scored 23 points for the Heat.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler missed the game with a sprained right ankle; it’s unknown
if he’ll play Wednesday when the Heat and Bucks meet again.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to have to come out
with a lot more energy or we’re going to get embarrassed again,” Herro said.
It was the biggest road win in Bucks
history, topping the 39-point margin at New York on April 10, 1987. The
47-point margin matched the second-worst loss in Heat history; they lost 138-91
to Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers in the eighth game of Miami’s first
season.
TIP-INS
Bucks: Milwaukee had 16 3’s by halftime,
the most of any half in team history. ... The Bucks’ last three games have all
been decided long before the final buzzer, with them beating Golden State by 39
on Christmas, then losing by 20 in New York on Sunday and leading by as many as
51 on Tuesday.
Heat: The worst Heat loss was 148-80
against Cleveland in 1991. ... Tuesday’s 32-point halftime deficit was second
worst in team history, topped by a 33-point hole on March 8, 1989 when Riley
and the Lakers led 76-43 at the break. ... Herro had 20 points by halftime, the
first time he’s done that in his career.
WELCOME BACK
The Heat had about 100 fans at the game,
all family and friends of players and employees. “I think it is a boost for the
family, just to be able to have some normalcy and have a real opportunity to
support their loved ones,” said Spoelstra, whose wife Nikki attended.
STREAK ENDS
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s streak of 108
consecutive regular-season games — and 132 overall — with at least 10 points
ended. It was the first time since Feb. 13, 2017 that he played, scored less
than 10 points and the Bucks won anyway.
UP NEXT
The teams meet again Wednesday in Miami. -AP
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