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MIAMI • The Miami Heat are happy their rematch with the Milwaukee Bucks comes just a day after their painful first clash.
On Tuesday night, the Bucks set a National Basketball Association (NBA) record by sinking 29 3-pointers en route to trampling last season’s losing finalists 144-97.
“Everyone in our locker room would rather get to this (rematch than endure) a long session of practice and filming,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
“I don’t think anyone feels good about (Tuesday’s game). It happened for a reason, and we don’t want to ignore that.”
Spoelstra hinted that the Bucks had viewed the first of consecutive games as revenge for Milwaukee’s elimination by Miami in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.
“It was pretty clear they were playing at a different level of urgency and intensity,” Spoelstra said of the Bucks. “It seemed like they had been thinking about this game for 80 days.”
The Bucks shot 56.9 percent from long range (29-of-51) and had 3-pointers from 12 players.
“Some days, the basketball gods are with you a bit,” said Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer, who didn’t realize his team had set the league record from long distance until a reporter told him later. of the party.
“This was probably one of those nights for us.”
In fact, it was the most points allowed by the Heat in a home game, and the Bucks produced their highest margin of victory in a road game.
All-Star Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 25 points and was successful on four of five three-point attempts.
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Milwaukee Bucks players scored triples in the Miami Heat’s 144-97 win.
Offseason acquisition Jrue Holiday contributed 24 points and shot six of 10 from three-point range, while Donte DiVincenzo scored 17 points and sank five of six from beyond the arc.
Such was the team’s hot hand that they were able to offset a quiet night from Bucks All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP, who provided nine points, six assists and six rebounds.
He was the only visiting player in the game not to hit a triple, zero out of two, as he ended his streak of 132 straight games (regular season and postseason) with double-digit points.
Miami, playing without All-Star forward Jimmy Butler due to a sprained ankle, had 23 points and seven assists from Tyler Herro.
The guard made nine of 16 shots from the ground, including three of eight from three-point range, to provide one of the Heat’s few bright spots.
If Miami wants to find a positive omen, they can’t look beyond the 1991-92 season.
On December 17, 1991, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the visiting Heat 148-80. However, the following night, Miami beat the visiting Indiana Pacers 118-112 in overtime.
Spoelstra, however, knows that his team has to defend much better for history to repeat itself.
“His first 15 3s were right in his wheelhouse,” he said of the Bucks. “They didn’t feel us (on defense), and then they went on a roll. They did a great shooting performance. They made us pay.”
Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo was understandably dejected after the game.
“They took shots and we lost too many losses (21),” he said. “We don’t go out with the intensity that we usually have.
REUTERS
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