Milwaukee Bucks

Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic reportedly won the NBA's 2022 MVP award for the second straight year, beating out Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid for the honor.

Speaking to reporters after Philly's 120-85 Game 5 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Embiid congratulated Jokic for winning the award, which has yet to be officially announced. He also said "there's no right or wrong" answer between himself, Antetokounmpo, Jokic and even Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker for the honor.

Here's Embiid's full quote on the MVP decision, voters on the award, and focusing on the bigger picture: pic.twitter.com/1H14Rc30qm

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) May 11, 2022

Many believed Embiid, this year's scoring champion, should have been named the league's MVP after he put together the best statistical season of his career. He was also the first center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 to be named scoring champion.

The 28-year-old averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 49.9 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from deep in 68 regular-season games. He also averaged 1.1 steals and 1.5 block per game.

Embiid's career year helped the Sixers finish fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record. They were technically tied for the second-best record in the East, but the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks earned the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively, because of tiebreakers.

What's even more impressive about Embiid's performance is that he did it without a true No. 2 beside him as Ben Simmons sat out until he was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden. That said, Tyrese Maxey also had a career year and blossomed into a star for the Sixers.

Even 76ers head coach Doc Rivers was disappointed that Embiid didn't win the award, telling reporters before Tuesday's Game 5 that he's unsure what more the 2014 third overall pick could have done"

I don't know if a guy could've done more than he did this year, play without the second-best player [Ben Simmons] all year. Listen, his resume was great. I'm not taking anything away from Jokic either, because he's a hell of a player.

I do think this whole analytic-driven society, world is out of control at times with some of the measures that they use. Like, watch the dang game and decide is what I've always said.

Jokic was still deserving of the honor, especially considering he led a severely depleted Nuggets team, which was without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. for much of the season, to the playoffs.

The 27-year-old also improved upon his numbers from the 2020-21 season, when he won his first MVP award. He averaged a career-high 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds, in addition to 7.9 assists and 1.5 steals, in 74 regular-season games.

In addition, Jokic shot 58.3 percent from the floor and 33.7 percent from deep and became the first player in NBA history to record 2,000 points (2,004), 1,000 rebounds (1,019), and 500 assists (584) in a single season.

Considering Embiid is just 28 years old, he still has plenty of time to add an MVP trophy to his numerous accolades. Who knows, maybe it will come as early as next season. 

Disney released a trailer Tuesday for Rise, a biographical movie about the life of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers, Thanasis and Kostas, who became the first trio of siblings to all win an NBA championship.

The film is set for a June 24 release on the Disney Plus streaming platform:

Sons. Brothers. A family of champions. 🏆

RISE, an all-new Original movie, streaming June 24 only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/RhENR8gARK

— Disney (@Disney) May 10, 2022

In October, Disney announced Giannis would serve as executive producer for the project alongside director Akin Omotoso and producer Bernie Goldmann.

"I am thrilled and honored that Disney+ is bringing my family's story to people all over the world," the two-time NBA MVP said. "My hope is that it will inspire those in similar circumstances to keep the faith, stay true to their goals and not to give up on striving for a better life."

Disney stated the movie would showcase "how one family's vision, determination and faith lifted them out of obscurity to launch the career of three NBA champions." Here's a full synopsis:

After emigrating to Greece from Nigeria, Vera and Charles Antetokounmpo struggled to survive and provide for their five children, while living under the daily threat of deportation. With their oldest son still in Nigeria with relatives, the couple were desperate to obtain Greek citizenship but found themselves undermined by a system that blocked them at every turn. When they weren't selling items to tourists on the streets of Athens with the rest of the family, encouraged by their father, the brothers would sneak away to play basketball with a local youth team. Latecomers to the sport, they discovered their great abilities on the basketball court and worked hard to become world class athletes. With the help of an agent, Giannis entered the NBA draft in 2013 in a long-shot prospect that would change not only his life but the life of his entire family.

Uche Agada plays the lead role of Giannis in the film.

Antetokounmpo has emerged as one of the NBA's best players across nine years with the Bucks. After racking up numerous individual accolades, he guided Milwaukee to a championship in 2021 while being named the NBA Finals MVP.

Thanasis was also a member of the Bucks' title-winning squad last year, while Kostas won a ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

They have two other brothers: Francis, a soccer player, and Alex, who plays for the Toronto Raptors' affiliate in the G League.

The 2022 NBA Finals are scheduled to conclude no later than June 19, the date of a possible Game 7, so the timing of the release matches up perfectly with the end of the season.

It'll be particularly fitting if the Bucks are able to successfully defend their title. They are currently tied with the Boston Celtics at two games apiece in a second-round playoff series.

The NBA announced Tuesday it's staging a pair of preseason games between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks in Abu Dhabi in October.

Abu Dhabi get ready the NBA is about to take over with two preseason games at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 #NBAAfrica #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/zEsxqKTp3r

— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) May 10, 2022

The league already confirmed plans to have the Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors play in Saitama, Japan, during the upcoming preseason.

The Abu Dhabi games are months in the making. The NBA announced in November it had signed a deal with the local Department of Culture and Tourism. Part of the agreement guaranteed two preseason games to mark the league's first trip to the Arabian Gulf.

"Abu Dhabi is a vibrant multicultural hub with a demonstrated track record of hosting world-class sporting events," NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said at the time.

Commissioner Adam Silver's predecessor, David Stern, had a vision to turn the NBA into a global game, and that helped the league's popularity explode overseas.

The NBA Global Games was one way to give international fans a taste of what happens in the Association on a nightly basis. The COVID-19 pandemic meant the series had to temporarily go on hold.

The 2019-20 season was the last time the NBA held events in foreign markets. It had preseason games in India, Japan and China, in addition to regular-season contests in Mexico City and Paris. 

Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst called for the standard of NBA officiating to improve following Milwaukee's 103-101 Game 3 victory over the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA playoffs.

Horst told The Athletic's Eric Nehm he sympathizes with referees because of the difficulty of their job but that he believes there's a clear problem:

I mean this sincerely: I do respect that, at the end of the day, it is a hard job, right? I couldn't do their job. You couldn't do their job. Officiating is hard, just like playing is hard and coaching is hard, and I think we all have a standard of trying to get better and improve. And at the end of the day, that's what stood out to me. We have to improve. That wasn't a quality playoff basketball game, and I think officiating played a role in that. [...]

When you start looking at the numbers, it's just, it's pretty outrageous. And I think our players and Boston's players just deserve to have it be addressed and have it be looked at and to just have some improvement.

The Bucks attempted half (17) as many free throws as the Celtics (34), who had a 14-point edge in scoring at the charity stripe. Giannis Antetokounmpo alluded to his frustration with the officiating but quipped he didn't want to incur a fine because he's "got to pay for diapers":

“How much does it cost if I say something, a comment about the refs? Is it $20,000? … I should not do it. I’ll save my money. I’ve got to pay for diapers.”

Giannis on not getting foul calls after Game 3 😂 https://t.co/2VT0NWuB4l

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 8, 2022

Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was more blunt, telling reporters how he got the impression league officials "want guys to flop more" because that's the easiest way to draw a foul.

Complaining about the referees is nothing new, especially in the playoffs. Coaches and players always look to gain an edge, including attempting to influence how games are officiated.

For Horst, expecting a systemic change to which he seemingly referenced might be unrealistic in the space of a postseason series.

The Milwaukee Bucks looked downright unbeatable during a 12-point victory in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

Not so much in Game 2.

A desperate Boston team salvaged a split in the first two games at home with a 109-86 victory Tuesday. The Celtics wasted no time setting the tone while jumping out to a 25-point halftime lead and rode that cushion all the way to a win against a Bucks squad that looked "terrible" at times.

I really don't know what the Bucks can take or learn from this game. They look terrible. Get on the plane and get ready for Game 3.

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) May 4, 2022

Bucks fans right now pic.twitter.com/ObMxoE6Jiz

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) May 4, 2022

Even without Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, the Celtics won the game with their early defense. Grant Williams and Al Horford in particular stood out as they formed a wall around the rim and bodied Giannis Antetokounmpo as he scored just five points on 2-of-12 shooting before halftime.

This is the worst half of basketball I’ve seen from Giannis

— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) May 3, 2022

Not sure I’ve seen anyone defend Giannis better in a half than Grant Williams just did.

Can’t believe I just typed that.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 4, 2022

Grant Williams is a beast man. There are few players in the league who can handle Giannis' strength. Grant is absolutely one of them.

— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) May 3, 2022

giannis posting up grant williams today pic.twitter.com/8U7z7kc6WN

— buckets (@buckets) May 4, 2022

grant williams should ask and receive the max

— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) May 4, 2022

The defense in this game is flat out incredible.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 4, 2022

Tatum steal and slam 😤 https://t.co/Xc0fW6Zhg6

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 4, 2022

The two-time MVP figured things out in the second half and finished with 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, but it was Jaylen Brown's star power that shone through when the game was still hanging in the balance in the early going.

He poured in 17 points in the first quarter alone on his way to 30 while dropping Grayson Allen to the ground and bouncing back from a 12-point and seven-turnover performance in Game 1.

JB cooking!! And that was nasty 🤮🤮🤮

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 3, 2022

JAYLEN BROWN DROPS GRAYSON ALLEN 💀 https://t.co/BxSvY4xlCl

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 3, 2022

⛸⛸⛸ pic.twitter.com/RuUViHUcbw

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 3, 2022

Jaylen Brown's 17 points in the 1st quarter are the most he has tallied in a quarter in his postseason career.

Brown's 17 points and 6 made FG in the 1st quarter are more than he had in all of Game 1. pic.twitter.com/LWjwne70PW

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 3, 2022

Jaylen Brown at the half:

25 PTS
9-10 FG
5-5 3P

He has more than double the threes the Bucks have as a team (2). pic.twitter.com/rnTeMksHMV

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 4, 2022

Jaylen Brown drains the 3 for his 25th point of the first half!

5/5 from deep for JB 🎯#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on TNT pic.twitter.com/n89uypMHwd

— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2022

While the Celtics still lost home-court advantage by falling short in Game 1, they now have some momentum on their side as the series shifts to Milwaukee for Saturday's Game 3.

BOSTON — The Milwaukee Bucks' Game 1 win over the Boston Celtics did more than just assert the Bucks' control of the series. 

It was a wake-up call for the NBA's most consistently elite team since Jan. 1 and carried a simple message: The championship still runs through the squad with the most dominant player in the world.  

Dealing with Kevin Durant in Round 1 now feels like a trial run for playing against Giannis Antetokounmpo, who presents a different challenge for the Celtics.

Antetokounmpo is a wrecking ball when driving toward the rim, capable of finishing with and through contact. Boston has talked about putting up a defensive wall to limit his aggressive drives, but in Game 1, those walls were more like sliding doors.

Still, there were a few silver linings for Boston to try to build on in its hopes of limiting Antetokounmpo's impact. 

---

Get Bigs Switching onto Giannis

One of the keys to Boston's defense being so successful this season was its ability to switch everything. While the idea of Al Horford or Robert Williams III defending Antetokounmpo for an entire game isn't ideal, both are good enough defenders to hold their own for stretches. 

Antetokounmpo had a 24-point, 13-rebound, 12-assist triple-double and didn't have much trouble against Grant Williams and Boston's other wings and guards. But the Celtics' center duo did its job in making Antetokounmpo work for his points.

Horford spent more time guarding Antetokounmpo (5:11 of game time) than any other player. The Bucks star shot just 2-of-10 from the field with one assist and three turnovers in that span.

Robert Williams was also excellent against the two-time league MVP, limiting Antetokounmpo to three assists and one turnover while forcing a miss in each of his three shot attempts.

But even when you defend him well, Antetokounmpo still has the ability to score, as seen in the alley-oop he threw off the backboard to himself after being defended well by Grant Williams. 

Nonetheless, Horford and Robert Williams are capable enough to prevent Antetokounmpo from consistently imposing his will in the paint.

---

Force Giannis Off the Stars

In Game 1, Antetokounmpo defended nine different players, who combined to shoot 5-of-15 when he was the primary defender. 

Antetokounmpo was especially impactful against Boston's top two scorers, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Using his length, athleticism and uncanny instincts, Antetokounmpo gave both Tatum and Brown fits inside the paint as well as on the perimeter.

Boston's one-two punch of went a combined 2-of-10 shooting from the field when Antetokounmpo was the primary defender. Going into Game 2, getting Tatum and Brown to challenge someone other than Antetokounmpo has to be a priority. Both should look to target the likes of Grayson Allen or Wes Matthews, or get Brook Lopez out on the perimeter in space. 

If Antetokounmpo continues to keep Tatum and Brown in check, the Celtics will have to generate points elsewhere. The most likely suspects? Marcus Smart, Horford, Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard, all of whom struggled to make shots in Game 1.

In any case, minimizing Antetokounmpo's impact must be a central focus for Boston as it looks to shore up its play amid what should be some noticeable adjustments on the Celtics' from Game 1 to Game 2.

None of its changes may end up making a difference, but should Boston continue its formula from Game 1, then Tatum and Co. are destined to find themselves on vacation one month earlier than they'd like.

Playoff basketball tends to present a far different challenge from the regular season. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo relishes the general change in playing style.

"I thrive through physicality," he said after his team's 101-89 Game 1 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday at TD Garden. "I love feeling beat up after games."

"I thrive through physicality. I love feeling beat up after the game."

Giannis Antetokounmpo after winning the physical matchup against the Celtics in Game 1. #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/s89tovZb8A

— FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (@FanDuelSN_WI) May 1, 2022

The final score illustrates how the games slow down and become more physical in the playoffs. The Bucks and Celtics averaged 115.5 and 111.8 points per game, respectively.

Antetokounmpo can expect to draw plenty of fouls, too, because that's one way to neutralize the two-time MVP a bit. He's a career 71.8 percent shooter from the charity stripe and went 6-of-11 on Sunday.

The 27-year-old isn't a historically poor foul shooter, but that's clearly one of the few weaknesses in his game.

In general, the Celtics did a pretty good job on Antetokounmpo, holding him to 9-of-25 shooting overall. Still, he finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. The Greek Freak also delivered the moment of the game with the alley-oop to himself.

GIANNIS OFF THE BACKBOARD TO HIMSELF 🔥

(via @NBATV)https://t.co/mpptZyofgX

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 1, 2022

The road won't get any easier for Giannis and the Bucks.

The Celtics had the best defensive rating (106.2) in the regular season, per NBA.com, and they put the clamps on Kevin Durant in the first round. Durant's 38.6 percent clip from the field was his lowest since his first playoff trip in 2009-10.

Boston head coach Ime Udoka and his staff might already be hard at work tweaking their defensive game plan ahead of Game 2.

If his comments are any indicator, Antetokounmpo will be ready.

The Milwaukee Bucks are making things look easy so far this postseason, earning their fourth straight victory overall with a 101-89 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

After their sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, the Celtics were riding high on a wave of momentum. It came crashing to earth Sunday, as they were held to 33.3 percent shooting from the field and made just 10 two-point field goals.

With a couple late buckets, Boston avoided becoming the team with the fewest number of 2-point makes in a playoff game in NBA history. That record remains with the Rockets, who went 9-for-37 in Game 6 of the West semis against the Spurs in 2017. Boston finished the game 10-for-33

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 1, 2022

The Bucks defense held the Celtics to 89 points and 34% shooting. pic.twitter.com/dbgWq3OqbW

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 1, 2022

Jaylen Brown had a day he will want to immediately forget. The All-Star forward had just 12 points with as many turnovers as defensive rebounds (seven) in 38 minutes.

This is the worst game I’ve ever seen Jaylen Brown play in his career

— DIEHARD CELTS FAN ☘️☘️ (@PlayoffJays_) May 1, 2022

Jaylen Brown has games where he just straight up stinks and this is one of them.

— Steve Perrault (@Steve_Perrault) May 1, 2022

Brown made four field goals in the game but was 1-of-4 on two-point attempts.

Milwaukee has been very happy to let Jaylen Brown take 3s

— Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) May 1, 2022

If there is one silver lining for the Celtics looking ahead in the series, Brown has done a good job of bouncing back this season after rough performances. He shot worse than 32 percent from the field five times during the regular season but went a combined 49-of-93 in the next games he played.

Milwaukee's defense was the story of this game. Brown and Jayson Tatum, who combined to average 53.0 points on 46.2 percent shooting against the Nets, had a total of 33 points and went 10-of-31 from the field.

Only a game but the Celtics played a talented but small, disjointed Nets team. The leap in competition was apparent. Bucks actually have viable wings for Tatum/Brown, size in the paint, and they're champions. Not a great game from Giannis and he was the best player on the floor.

— Cyrus Smith (@CoolCyWrites) May 1, 2022

The Celtics couldn't get anything to fall in its Game 1 loss to the Bucks.

◽️ 28/84 FG (33.3%)
◽️ 18/50 FG (36%)
◽️ 10/31 FG from Tatum and Brown (32.3%)

The league's No. 1 defense got a taste of its own medicine.https://t.co/wMZMXc2LNp pic.twitter.com/Enb16JNi2S

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 1, 2022

The Celtics shot just 3-for-20 from the field when Giannis Antetokounmpo or Brook Lopez contested the shot, including 1-for-15 on 2-pointers. @ESPNStatsInfo

— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) May 1, 2022

Boston's offense didn't score more than 24 points in a single quarter, including just 19 in the fourth. It committed 18 turnovers in the loss, tied for its most in a game since Feb. 2.

The Celtics defense did hold up well against the Bucks. The reigning NBA champions went 37-of-90 from the field. Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't have his most efficient game with 24 points on 25 shots, but he did finish with a triple-double.

Giannis struggled with his shot but still dominated the game.

24 PTS
13 REB
12 AST
2 BLK
+23

If you don’t think he’s the best player in the world, we’re not watching the same sport. pic.twitter.com/MsynBZQ79c

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 1, 2022

Despite having the 3rd-worst shooting night of his playoff career (min. 20 FGA), Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first Bucks player in franchise history with multiple playoff triple-doubles.

The Bucks take Game 1 in Boston, 101-89. pic.twitter.com/knBj9rbY7t

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 1, 2022

There were still moments on the offensive end when Antetokounmpo was able to take advantage of Boston's defense.

Giannis goes off the backboard for the emphatic slam!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on ABC pic.twitter.com/vyn50aa2Au

— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2022

Neither team played their best Sunday, yet the Bucks were still able to win fairly comfortably.

This is bad news for the Celtics because Milwaukee is still playing without Khris Middleton. They also got a scare when Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart briefly left the game in the first half with a shoulder stinger and quad contusion. He was able to return to the game before limping to the locker room in the fourth quarter.

Game 1 was proof that Boston is going to need Brown and Tatum to play at the level they did against the Nets to win this series. Brown, in particular, struggled to score and was turning the ball over.

If that trend continues, the Bucks could end this series much faster than anyone was anticipating.

The Celtics will look to salvage a split in Boston when they host the Bucks for Game 2 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer announced forward Khris Middleton will undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of an MCL injury he suffered in his left knee during Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Chicago Bulls in their opening-round playoff series.

Middleton exited the game in the middle of the fourth quarter and didn't return.

"We have a job to do here," teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo said. "Obviously Khris is one of the best players on the team. If he's not able to be with us, it's going to be a tremendous loss for us."

Middleton missed time in March with a wrist injury. He also sat out earlier this season while in the league's health and safety protocols.

A 10-year veteran, Middleton was selected to the All-Star Game this season for the third time in his career and is one of the Bucks' most important players. Through 66 regular-season games, he averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists.

Middleton has spent the last nine seasons in Milwaukee. Alongside two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, he helped lead the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971 last year. Middleton has also averaged 20-plus points while shooting over 40 percent from three-point range in each of the past two seasons.

Middleton won a gold medal with Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics last summer.

If Middleton is sidelined, more pressure will be on Antetokounmpo to carry Milwaukee's offense. Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday, who averaged 18.3 points and 6.8 assists in the regular season, will also have to increase his production.

Wings Grayson Allen and Wesley Matthews are likely to see more playing time as Middleton's minutes are divvied up between them. 

Swingman Pat Connaughton also returned to the lineup in late March after recovering from surgery to repair a fractured bone in his hand, so he could help mitigate the loss of Middleton as well.

Sunday was not a bad day at the office for Milwaukee Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday.

The veteran played a grand total of eight seconds in the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which was enough to trigger a bonus in his contract. Bobby Marks of ESPN explained Holiday made $306,000 in bonus money because he appeared in 67 games and averaged better than 3.15 rebounds a night.

It wasn't a surprise he didn't play more than that against Cleveland.

After all, the Bucks did not play Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis, among others, in the final game of the regular season. It provided their key players with an extra day of rest heading into the playoffs and also kept the possibility alive that the team could fall into the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The No. 3 seed will play the freefalling Chicago Bulls in the first round, while the No. 2 seed could play the star-studded Brooklyn Nets depending on how the Eastern Conference play-in tournament unfolds.

Whoever Milwaukee plays, Holiday will be preparing for the postseason with some extra cash in his pocket.