Nba playoffs, Boston lesson in Milwaukee: series 2-2

An absolutely surreal Al Horford and the decisive acceleration in the fourth period allow the Celtics to win the game-4 and thus equalize in accounts in a series that returns to Boston at 2-2. The Boston veteran claims his best performance in the postseason with 30 very heavy points, Tatum is back on track after the bad test offered in race-3 and the Celtics with 43 points in the fourth period change direction of the match and go on to win 116-108 on the parquet d Milwaukee.

The key

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A success son of the courageous choices of coach Udoka, who having to give up the bruised Robert Williams gives Horford minutes and offensive opportunities, which brings the advantage of the home factor back into the hands of the Celtics. Great intensity already from the duo with the defense that prevails on the attacks. The Celtics are unable to find rhythm from long distance despite creating good conclusions, on the other hand Holiday and the usual Giannis, who is unstoppable when he attacks the iron, carry on the reigning champions.

The match

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The match struggles to take off mainly due to the defenses that stifle the attacks but in the second period Boston begins to gain confidence from the long distance. Brown and Tatum find the basket, the Celtics take back Milwaukee and arrive at rest late by only one length after having played a first half that was not particularly brilliant at an offensive level. However, things change in the third period. Giannis begins to make his mark on the match, Portis and Lopez lend a hand in attack and the Bucks produce their best basketball, reaching the double-digit lead.

The match winner

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Just when Milwaukee seems to be about to take off, however, Horford arrives and you do not expect to upset the plans of the reigning champions. The 35-year-old ignites the Celtics’ attack and pushes the visiting team to a 10-0 partial at the opening of the fourth period, closed by a peremptory dunk, seasoned by a foul, in the face of Giannis, which changes the direction of the match and brings the visiting team. With Brown on the bench with five fouls against Milwaukee responds with the baskets of Lopez and Giannis but Horford has not yet finished his show and, supported by a Tatum who thus cancels the very ugly test of race-3, becomes decisive in the break of 14 -2 which brings the Celtics to +10 and silences the Fiserv Forum. The rest is academy and Boston is evened out in the series. “Horford had a fantastic season – underlines Celtics coach Ime Udoka – but tonight, with Williams out, we needed something more from him and he responded in a great way.” The defensive approach of the last quarter becomes coach Budenholzer’s regret: “The 43 points suffered in the fourth period obviously made the difference – says the Bucks coach – Horford and Tatum have produced excellent plays but on a defensive level we have done too much. fatigue. Now we have to roll up our sleeves and go and win on the Celtics court ”. Tomorrow is race-5 in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee:Antetokounmpo 34 (14/28, 0/4, 6/11 tl), Lopez 17, Holiday 16. Rebounds: Antetokounmpo 18. Assist: Holiday 9.

Boston:Horford 30 (6/7, 5/7, 3/4 tl), Tatum 30 (8/14, 3/10, 5/6 tl), Smart, Brown 18. Rebounds: Tatum 13. Assist: Smart 8.