The Boston Celtics around German national player Daniel Theis have a long and clear lead in the fifth game of the NBA playoff series against defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. Then they collapse dramatically and are now on the brink of collapse. The only thing left for you is optimism.
Despite a strong brief performance by German national player Daniel Theis, the Boston Celtics are on the verge of being eliminated from the NBA playoffs. The record champions lost to the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in their own hall with 107:110 and are 2:3 behind in the series. Theis, who hadn’t convinced recently, was on the floor for eleven minutes and scored eleven points.
The Celtics led by 14 points early in the last quarter, but led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks turned the game around in a dramatic finale. The Greek superstar scored 40 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Jayson Tatum (34) and Jaylen Brown (26) scored 60 points together for Boston – but in the end it wasn’t enough. Four wins are required to advance in the best-of-seven series. In game six on Saturday night, Milwaukee has home advantage and can advance to the semifinals in front of their home crowd.
“They did to us what we did to them in the last game,” said Celtics point guard Marcus Smart, announcing a big fight for the game in Milwaukee: “We have to fight back. We don’t have time to think about it , how we lost today and it hurts. It hurts, it definitely hurts, but we just don’t have time to feel the pain. We have to prepare for the next game.”
Boston coach Ime Udoka also continued to spread optimism despite the bitter bankruptcy: “We’re not out yet. We can answer that. But of course it won’t get any easier. We now have to win two games in a row.”
The Golden State Warriors also have their second chance at the next round. Stephen Curry (14 points) and Co. conceded a bitter 95:134 smack against the Memphis Grizzlies in game five, but still lead 3:2.
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