Bucks make 25 threes, beat Heat 138-122 without Antetokounmpo

MILWAUKEE(AP) — Brook Lopez scored 25 points, Jrue Holiday added 24 and thehot-shooting Milwaukee Bucks withstood Giannis Antetokounmpo’sabsence while trouncing the Miami Heat 138-122 on Wednesday night,tying their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at a gameapiece.

The Buckswent 25 of 49 on 3-point attempts to tie the NBA record for 3-pointbaskets in a postseason game. Pat Connaughton, who didn’t even playin Game 1, added a playoff career-high 22 points while going 6 of10 from beyond the arc.

Antetokounmporemained out for Milwaukee after leaving theBucks’130-117 Game 1 lossearly in the second quarter with abruised lower back. The two-time MVP suffered the injury on a hardfall after getting fouled late in the first period during a driveto the basket.

“We’llcontinue to monitor him and expect for him to improve and stillcontinue to be optimistic that soon he’ll be ready to play,” Buckscoach Mike Budenholzer said before the game.

The Bucksalso were missing guard Wesley Matthews, who had strained his rightcalf in Game 1. The Heat didn’t have Tyler Herro, who broke hisright hand in Game 1 and likely won’t return this season unlessMiami reaches the NBA Finals.

For at leastone night, the Bucks didn’t miss Antetokounmpo at all as theycapitalized on a dramatic turnaround in 3-point shooting. In Game1, the Bucks went 11 of 45 on 3-point attempts while the Heat were15 of 25. This time, the Bucks made more than half their 3-pointshots in a record-tying performance.

Joe Inglesscored 17 points for the Bucks and was 5 of 6 from beyond the arc.Khris Middleton and Grayson Allen added 16 points apiece. BobbyPortis had 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Jimmy Butlerscored 25 points for the Heat, who host Game 3 on Saturday.

The Bucksinitially thrived by relying on the same formula they used the lasttime they played a home postseason game without Antetokounmpo. Theygave the ball to Lopez early and often.

Lopez, whoscored just 10 points in Game 1, had 14 by the end of the firstquarter Wednesday. During Milwaukee’s 2021 title run, Lopez hadscored a playoff career-high 34 points to help theBucksbeat the Atlanta Hawks 123-112in Game 5 of the Eastfinals while Antetokounmpo was out with a hyperextended leftknee.

The successof Lopez inside opened things up for everyone on the perimeter.

Connaughtonsank a 3-pointer that capped an 11-0 run to put Milwaukee ahead62-41 with 5:29 left in the second quarter. Butler ended that spurtby making two free throws, but the Bucks scored the next 13 points– including seven from Ingles - to grab a 32-point lead.

The Bucks ledby as many as 36 in the third quarter. The Heat outscored the Bucks37-20 in the fourth quarter to make the final score somewhatrespectable.

TIP-INS

Heat: DuncanRobinson replaced Herro in the starting lineup and had 14 points.... After not playing at all in Game 1, Victor Oladipo had sevenpoints by halftime Wednesday. He finished with 15.

Bucks: JaeCrowder received a flagrant 1 foul late in the third quarter forgrabbing Butler’s right leg as the Heat forward was going up for ashot near the basket. ... Milwaukee had gone 11-8 in regular-seasongames that Antetokounmpo missed. … Lopez received the NBA CaresCommunity Assist award for the month of March because of hissupport of youth literacy. The NBA will donate $10,000 to theMilwaukee Public Library Foundation.