The New York Knicks have been inconsistent this season and are looking for possible trade pieces to fix it.

Jrue Holiday reportedly could be an option for the Knicks. Holiday is currently with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Holiday is a two-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion. He won with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 and the Boston Celtics in 2024. The Celtics traded Holiday for Anfernee Simons this offseason. This move was likely made to save the Celtics money.

The Knicks’ perimeter defense has been bad at many points throughout the season. Jalen Brunson is an All-Star point guard, but his defense can leave much to be desired. Holiday is known for being an elite perimeter defender.  

In the NBA, salaries need to be close to matching for any trade to take place. Holiday’s $32 million contract could make that difficult for any team, especially the cap-strapped Knicks.

The Knicks likely need to give up Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson and Miles “Deuce” McBride just to get the salaries to match. This seems like an overpay for a declining Holiday.

Along with that, the Knicks have their eyes set on a much bigger prize. The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo are working together to find him a trade partner, according to ESPN. The Knicks have long been considered Antetokounmpo’s preferred destination. 

The Knicks’ path to acquire Antetokounmpo isn’t very clear. They gave up most of their draft assets to get Mikal Bridges. It’s likely the only way Antetokounmpo ends up a Knick is if he specifically requests a trade to them. 

Karl-Anthony Towns is likely to be a part of any Knicks deal for Antetokounmpo. Their salaries almost match, so it’s hard to include many other players. The Knicks need to rely on pick swaps to give the Bucks assets.  

The Boston Celtics are trading Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks, sources told ESPN on Monday night.

Portland moved aggressively to reacquire Holiday, whom the franchise originally received from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Damian Lillard trade in 2023 and later moved to Boston.

Simons joins Boston on an expiring contract, while Holiday is owed around $72 million in 2026-27 and 2027-28. The deal saves Boston $40 million in luxury tax payments next season, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Portland received Holiday back after trading him to Boston two years ago for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, a 2024 first-round draft pick (that became Bub Carrington) and a 2029 first-round pick. The original package for Lillard included Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a first-round pick and two first-round pick swaps.

The move begins what is expected to be an active offseason for the Celtics, who are retooling their roster in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s right Achilles tear in the second round of the playoffs. They remain engaged in trade talks surrounding multiple key players on the roster, sources said.

Holiday earned All-Defensive team honors while shooting a career-high 42.9% from 3 in the 2023-2024 season. He played a crucial role in the team’s run to the title that season, averaging 13.2 points on 50-40-90 shooting splits.

Holiday, now heading into his 17th NBA season, brings championship experience to a young Trail Blazers core. Holiday’s All-Defensive background will help the Trail Blazers’ rising defense. From January 19 onward, the Trail Blazers had a 23-18 record and ranked third in the league in defensive rating and effective field goal percentage allowed in transition (58.2%), according to ESPN Research.

The Celtics get a 26-year-old scoring guard in Simons who is comfortable shooting from distance. Simons has averaged nearly nine 3-point attempts per game over his past three seasons, a valuable skill in Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s 3-pointer-heavy offense.

After a disappointing end to the 2024-2025 NBA season, the Boston Celtics are likely going to go into next year with a different-looking roster.

The Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum not only ended the Celtics’ title hopes but also likely solidifies that the team will not be contending for an NBA championship next season.

NBA TRADE RUMORS

If the team chooses to make changes to the roster, it’s the older veterans who could have new homes for the next season. The Celtics are reportedly taking calls on starting point guard Jrue Holiday, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.

The 35-year-old averaged 11.3 points and 3.9 assists per game this season, the lowest in both statistics since he was a rookie.

He still has three years remaining on a $134.4 million extension he signed with the Celtics before the start of the season.

Some teams that could be interested in Holiday are the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks. Despite his large contract, Holiday will have a market.

Kristaps Porzingis is another player the Celtics could trade. He has one year remaining on a two-year, $60 million contract he signed with the team.

Porzingis missed long stretches of games this season with an illness that lasted into the playoffs.

Coming into a season where the Celtics are looking to reload, Porzingis and Holiday are two candidates to wear different jerseys next season.

The Boston Celtics locked down point guard Jrue Holiday with a four-year, $135 million extension. The team acquired Holiday in September in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.

On paper, Holiday’s production in Boston has dipped compared to his Milwaukee days, as he is scoring 12.5 points per game with 4.9 assists. In reality, however, the 33-year-old has taken a supporting role behind stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He has performed very well in this sense, warranting the Celtics’ interest in extending him.

ESPN confirmed the deal with Holiday’s agent, Jason Glushon, who confirmed it is a guaranteed contract. Holiday will become the fourth player in NBA history over 30 to receive a guaranteed nine-digit deal, joining LeBron James, Steph Curry and Al Horford.

With Boston locking down its current core, one that has earned a league-best 62-17 record this season, it is clear that the team believes that it has assembled a dynastic roster. That will be tested this postseason, as the team will be the top seed in the Eastern Conference and overwhelming favorites to advance to the NBA Finals.

In addition to Tatum and Brown, who will remain with the team through the 2025-26 season, big man Kristaps Porzingis has also earned an extension with Boston. Holiday has produced behind these three all seasons, creating a juggernaut that could continue to flummox teams for years. 

“Once I knew I was getting traded here, this is a part of what I wanted or what I envisioned,” Holiday told reporters Thursday. “Being in a great organization. Being here for a lengthy amount of time and being able to play alongside people like [Tatum] and [Brown], and really try to get more banners and get more rings.”

It seems that a brief era of tumult has ended for the Milwaukee Bucks. In a three-way trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns finalized Wednesday, Milwaukee received star point guard Damian Lillard in exchange for Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, a 2029 first-round pick and two first-round pick swaps.

At the end of the 2022-23 NBA season, the Bucks faced a series of challenges that seemed certain to end their attempt at a dynasty prematurely. They were a no-show as the first seed in the Eastern Conference, going quietly in five games against the eighth-seeded Miami Heat. Star Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered an injury in that series and failed to deliver upon returning. Longtime Milwaukee forward Khris Middleton entered free agency early in the summer and seemed to be on his way out of the organization.

For a moment, the 2021 champs seemed to be fading away. Now, they’re championship favorites once more, as Lillard will join Antetokounmpo and Middleton, re-signed in July, to form one of the most formidable big threes in recent NBA history.

Though it has long been rumored that Lillard would be leaving Portland before the start of the 2023-24 season, he still took to Twitter Wednesday night to speak to Portland fans and express optimism for his future.

“The casuals won’t be addressed but the Trailblazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be … and they will be addressed truthfully,” Lillard said. “Stay tuned. Excited for my next chapter!”

In a joint statement, Bucks president Peter Feigin and general manager Jon Horst said that the team had no choice but to go for Lillard, a seven-time All-Star who scored 32.2 points per game last season.

“Today is an exciting day for Milwaukee,” Feigin and Horst said. “When you have the rare opportunity to pair one of the premier NBA players with a highly versatile roster that has lofty goals, you go for it. And we’re thrilled to welcome seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard to the Bucks.”

Despite disappointing in the playoffs last year, the Bucks still amassed a 58-24 record, the best in the league. Antetokoumpo remains a generational talent and will keep Middleton, his right-hand man, and gain Lillard, who has not had an All-Star teammate since 2015.

The Milwaukee Bucks clinched the first seed in the NBA Playoffs with a win over the Chicago Bulls Wednesday. The team currently has a 57-22 record with two games remaining and has maintained a decisive lead over the rest of the Eastern Conference since late February.

Milwaukee’s conference-clinching victory against Chicago came in typically commanding fashion, a 105-92 win in which Giannis Antetokounmpo and sharpshooter Khris Middleton were hardly required. Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez dominated the floor with 27 and 26 points, respectively, while Jrue Holiday was a highly effective distributor with 15 assists and 20 points of his own.

“I like shooting the ball,” Portis said after making six of nine shots from beyond the arc. “Couple guys out, that’s a lot more shots out there so I can be a little bit more aggressive.”

Antetokounmpo was listed as probable to start despite a minor injury but was instead rested while Middleton left early with soreness from a nagging knee injury. Both of these players are expected to play a significant role for the team in the playoffs and straining them at the end of the regular season was not necessary.

“We got a lot of guys that can play,” Bucks guard Wesley Matthews said. “A lot of guys that will step up to the occasion. The NBA is kind of a blessing in disguise. It’s an 82-game season. It’s a grind. Unfortunately, this game has injuries and guys have been in and out of the lineup. I don’t know how many rotations, how many starting lineups we’ve had over the course of this season.”

While Middleton’s re-aggravated injury could be cause for concern as the postseason approaches, Antetokounmpo seems to be well on his way to taking the floor in the first round. Behind the Greek Freak, Milwaukee is expected to make a deep run in the playoffs on the way to potentially earning its second championship in three years.

Though upsets are always a possibility, the only two teams expected to challenge the Bucks in the Eastern Conference are the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sixers are similar to the Bucks in that they run through a single star in MVP candidate Joel Embiid, who has improved on his stellar form in previous seasons to propel Philadelphia to a 52-27 season with three games remaining. The Celtics also have its fair share of stars, namely Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but also feature a more balanced offensive attack. These two teams will likely have to face off before they ever reach the Bucks, a distinct advantage for the top seed if they manage to reach the conference finals.

A cursory glance at NBA media in recent months would suggest that the league is in a state of wide-open, fiercely competitive disarray. The Phoenix Suns have been billed as the new superteam in the West while the Celtics continue to serve as the stalwart of the East. The Mavericks were among a slew of teams that received buzz for big trade deadline moves. LeBron James and the Lakers will receive coverage for as long as he remains with the team.

The NBA Playoffs loom large and the league wants you to believe that it’s anyone’s championship to win as the regular season winds down. Just one thing: Whatever you do, don’t check the box score of the Bucks/Pacers game last night. Or any Bucks game for that matter. In fact, maybe you should just avoid the state of Wisconsin altogether. It’ll ruin the suspense.

Most of the narratives surrounding the NBA postseason are fluff, masking a single hard truth: Before any team in the league can consider winning a championship in 2023, Giannis Antentokounmpo needs to be stopped. It’s the league’s sleeping storyline, one that has been kept out of focus because of its merciless inevitability.

On Wednesday night, Antentokounmpo scored 38 points with 17 rebounds and 12 assists in a ruthless 149-136 victory over the Indiana Pacers. He wasn’t even the highest scorer on his team, as Jrue Holiday scored 51 on 30 shots from the field. The team didn’t need Khris Middleton, still recovering from a minor injury, to completely overwhelm Indiana and earn its 55th win of the season. The top seed in the Eastern Conference is well in hand with six regular season games remaining.

On ESPN’s Instagram account Wednesday, the organization did dedicate one post to Antetokounmpo and Holiday. But it also made two separate posts about a hot night for Russell Westbrook, another two about Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves and four about high school player Bronny James after the McDonald’s All-American Game. If the season ended today, only one of those players would have a guaranteed spot in the fast-approaching NBA postseason.

Diverting attention away from the Bucks is more the result of a focus on sensationalism than anything else. Antetokounmpo is so established at this point in his career that he can sometimes be overlooked. He’s unlikely to win MVP this year despite putting up unnatural numbers, with some blaming voter fatigue for the likely snub.

Meanwhile, audiences are more likely to consume content about James or his highly regarded son, as well as dramatic figures like Draymond Green or Dillon Brooks. ESPN merely provides fresh stories. Breaking news about another massive performance for Antetokounmpo is redundant at this point. He’s no longer a developing story — he’s a constant force.

But if containing Antetokounmpo is the key to any team’s postseason success, the media will have to lock in soon enough, because the task appears to be impossible. For all of the MVP buzz surrounding stars like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, there’s only one NBA player singlehandedly capable of leading a team to a championship.

Since Jan. 23, Antetokounmpo has been held under 25 points just four times. All four of those games resulted in wins for the Bucks. Between Jan. 9 and March 1, the team did not lose a single game in which he appeared. Like Patrick Mahomes in the NFL or a number of ace pitchers in MLB, the Bucks star is a virtuoso performer, seemingly unaltered by any opponent’s attempt to stop him.

The Bucks’ status as a perennial championship contender may be a stale story, but it’s profoundly difficult to foresee a world where multiple teams’ playoff hopes don’t die by Antetokounmpo’s hand in the coming weeks. The Greek Freak is a largely wholesome, drama-averse superstar currently hidden in the box scores. But when the game truly comes down to wins and losses, it won’t take long for him to get back on the front page.

Kevin Durant and Jrue Holiday are often on opposing sides during NBA games, but against team Australia, they joined forces to lead a come-from-behind victory. The 97-78 win puts Team USA in the gold medal game, where the team has the opportunity to win its fourth straight Olympic final.

“They came out and hit us with a nice haymaker, and we were able to get back up and get that lead back,” Durant said of the team’s efforts.

Australia did, in fact, come out swinging. The Australian squad – led by wily NBA player Patty Mills – secured a 15-point first lead half.

Durant then popped off, collecting 23 points in the victory. He helped spur an 8-0 run that cut the Australian lead to just three points going into the final two quarters of play. Holiday also made a sizable contribution, putting up 11 points.

“When you are a great team and you’re playing a team who feels that it’s going to be tough to beat us, they’re going to come out and play their best brand of basketball. They’re going to play perfect basketball, and I felt like that’s what they did in that first half, and once we went down three going into halftime, I felt like we had the game in hand,” Durant noted.

The confidence in Durant and Holiday helped inspire others on the team; Devin Booker 20 points in the game. “He’s been a great leader for us, and we feed off his energy,” Booker said of Durant.

To win gold, the U.S. will need to defeat France, which handed the American squad an 83-76 loss in the opening game of the Tokyo Olympics.

Following a loss to France on Sunday, the U.S. Men’s basketball team found its form Wednesday afternoon during a 120-66 rout against Iran.

It was the first win of the Olympics for the men’s basketball team. The victory was only possible after head coach Gregg Popovich made some serious adjustments to the game plan and rotation following Sunday’s loss to France. First and foremost, Popovich changed the starting lineup. He inserted Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker. Both players came off the bench against France after traveling to Japan late following the NBA Finals.

The improved lineup brought balance to the team and paid off as the team produced 19 fast-break points in the first half alone. In addition, Damian Lillard, who surprisingly struggled with his shot against France, exploded for 21 points, all of which came from seven three-pointers. Team USA improved their three-point shooting drastically after only converting 10-of-32 shots from beyond the arc against France. Against Iran, they shot 48.7 percent from the three-point line. Booker scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds, Jayson Tatum had 14 points and Zach LaVine tallied 13 points. It was a well-rounded effort.

“Being in the hotel, at meals, and on the practice court and just talking after that loss, we came together,” Lillard said. “It’s time to start looking like Team USA.”

“Each of these guys scores 20 or 25 points for their teams; we can’t play like that, and so we don’t,” Popovich said of the team. “Everybody in a sense is a role player now; we don’t need heroes.”

The United States will face the Czech Republic on Saturday. A win over the Czechs will clinch a berth into the medal round next week.

The Bucks trailed in the beginning minutes of the fourth quarter, their team on the verge of an effectively insurmountable 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals. Then, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo took over the game, leading Milwaukee to an essential Game 4 victory by a final score of 109-103. With the win, Milwaukee and Phoenix have split the first four games at two apiece.

Middleton registered 40 points on the night, hitting a bevy of shots from nearly all areas of the court. “Everybody’s banged up. You just have to give it your all and leave it all on the court,” Middleton noted after the game. Antetokounmpo had 26 points, as well as a host of eye-popping defensive plays – including one that arguably sealed the victory for Milwaukee against Deandre Ayton with just over one minute to play in the game. “Going down the stretch, just do whatever it takes to win the game. Just put yourself in a position that can win the game,” Antetokounmpo said of his defensive heroics.

“They have been through the most together. They have endured the most. They have been criticized for everything they have done here, and they have also got the glory … But they know the pressures that comes with that, and they have exceeded all those expectations. For them to be able to perform on each stage, and especially a stage like this, is awesome to see, and I’m blessed to be a part of it,” Bucks guard Jrue Holiday said of the Middleton-Antetokounmpo tandem. The two have played in 12 playoff series together, including 62 games suiting up in the same uniform in the postseason.

“We played so many games together. But there was a specific time, I think it was in the playoffs against Toronto. We played at home. He wasn’t feeling great. But he played the game, and he gave everything for the team and for us. You know, that’s when I realized, ‘Yeah, that’s the guy I want to be on the line with and go through the journey with,” Antetokounmpo said of his relationship with Middleton.

The Bucks were almost unable to overcome the incredible offensive showing put on by Devin Booker, who was nearly automatic both from mid-range and beyond the arc. Foul trouble for Booker would be difficult for him to overcome late in the game, though, and the star arguably should have fouled out multiple times in the fourth quarter.

“Closing a game like this in the NBA Finals, obviously it means a lot. It felt good. But we cannot be satisfied,” Antetokounmpo mentioned about the critical game.

Game 5 will be in Phoenix on Saturday night.

The Bucks still have work to do if they hope to win the 2021 NBA Finals, but they took care of a critical first step: cutting Phoenix’s 2-0 lead in half. Milwaukee topped the Suns 120-100 in Game 3.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 41 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. This effort gave Milwaukee its first win of the series, a happy sight for fans in attendance for the first NBA Finals game in the city since 1974. Jrue Holiday chipped in 21 points.

The win stunts the momentum of Phoenix, who sought to jump out to an essentially unbeatable 3-0 series lead. “I said it after last game. This team’s not going to give in. They’re going to keep playing all the way through … So we have to bring that same effort that we had in the first two games and I think we’ll be in good shape” said Suns guard Devin Booker. Booker disappointed in this matchup, shooting just 3 for 14.

The Suns never felt all that threatening in the game. The Bucks went into halftime up 15 points (60-45), and then after a short burst by Phoenix late in the third quarter, Milwaukee quickly seized control once more and extended their lead to 22 points (98-76).

Game 4 will be in Milwaukee before the series heads back to Phoenix. It is seemingly another must-win tilt for the Bucks.

The Phoenix Suns are now two wins away from their first NBA Finals victory in franchise history after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 by a final scoreline of 118-108.

Devin Booker netted 31 points, including seven three-point conversions. Star guard Chris Paul collected 23 points in the victory. A valiant effort from Giannis Antetokounmpo (42 points and 12 rebounds, including a 20-point third quarter) to carry his team was not enough to overcome the team-oriented play of Phoenix.

The win in Game 1 by Phoenix marks the first time the franchise took the first game in the finals, and the two victories match their total wins in the finals of 1976 and 1993.

Antetokounmpo was brief but direct in his analysis of the rest of the series. “We’ve got to go back home and protect home,” he said. Protecting home means better play from Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, who shot 7 for 21 and 5 for 16, respectively. If they do heat up, they could overcome a 2-0 hole for the second time this season – the first being their series victory over the Nets.

The Bucks will look to stop Phoenix’s potent offense, which quickly moves the ball around the perimeter and is loaded with a host of outside shooters. Giannis will need to stop carrying so much of the offensive burden to give Milwaukee a chance, as his 15 buckets were more than double any of his teammates.

Regardless of the loss, Antetokounmpo still shined. “I will say it’s incredible what he’s been able to do, and it hasn’t happened without time he’s put in to get himself ready, get his body better and continue to do the things that he does to be a two-time MVP,” said Bucks guard Pat Connaughton.

Milwaukee has relied on inside scoring to keep pace with Phoenix’s multilayered offense. They will need to add in makes from beyond the arc and diversify who is putting up points in order to overcome the Suns in Game 3.

Game 3 will be Sunday night in Milwaukee.

The Phoenix Suns took Game 1 at home behind a miraculous effort from Chris Paul, who scored 32 points and dished out nine assists. Giannis Antetkounmpo was not fully healthy and looked noticeably slower as he played through a leg injury that kept him out of the final few games of Milwaukee’s series against the Hawks. Game 2 tips off tonight in Phoenix. Let’s take a look at the spread, moneyline, total and more as we gear up for this pivotal matchup.

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• Bucks Odds: +5.5
• Suns Odds: -5.5
• Moneyline: +185 / -215
• Over / Under: 220.5
• Time: 9:05 p.m. EST
• TV Network: ABC

Considering they are coming off a 13-point victory, Monty Williams is unlikely to make many adjustments for Phoenix. The offense was brilliant in Game 1 as the Suns utilized the pick-and-roll. Deandre Ayton was phenomenal on both ends of the floor, finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds. Devin Booker wasn’t that efficient on offense (1-of-8 on three-point shots), however, he did convert all 10 of his free throws and finished with 27 points. If the Suns get similar production out of their trio of stars in Game 2, they will be very difficult to stop.

While the Suns will likely head into Game 2 with the same gameplan they had in Game 1, the Milwaukee Bucks are going to make a ton of adjustments, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Coach Mike Budenholzer should ask his players to stop switching assignments even when screens are set. The Bucks tried the switching plan in Game 1 and were absolutely burned. Paul and Booker torched Brook Lopez in one-on-one situations all night long. That can’t happen again if Milwaukee wants to even the series. The Bucks also have to remain physical, but not foul nearly as much as they did in Game 1. Phoenix sank 25-of-26 attempts from the charity stripe on Tuesday. The Bucks will have to find a way to play strong perimeter defense without sending the Suns to the line.

Offensively, the Bucks need to get to the foul line more themselves. They only had 16 attempts from the charity stripe in Game 1. Milwaukee also needs to do a much better job finishing inside the paint. According to NBA Advanced Stats, the Bucks shot just 13-for-24 (54.2%) within five feet of the rim in Game 1. During the regular season, they averaged 19.3 field goal makes on 29.3 field goal attempts (66.1%).

Overall, it will be very interesting to see the adjustments that each team makes ahead of Game 2. Obviously, the health of Antetkounmpo is critical for Milwaukee, but even if he is not feeling 100 percent healthy, we all know he will be on the court, which is valuable in and of itself. And don’t forget about Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday; they were phenomenal in the former MVP’s absence against the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Prediction: The Bucks cannot afford to fall two games down in this series. Budenholzer has one of the most brilliant minds in the NBA and I believe that he will find a way to make the necessary changes to not only cover the 5.5-point spread but also to steal Game 2 on the road.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the prevailing force for the Bucks throughout the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Unfortunately, the star forward will most likely not be available for Game 1 of the finals against the Phoenix Suns.

Antetokounmpo was injured in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals and has yet to return to play. Coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters “he’s making good progress,” although what that means precisely is still not clear.

Giannis was able to do some work on the court for the first time Saturday, but he was still limited and did not fully practice with his teammates.

“When Giannis is out there, a lot of times we can just give him the ball and let him go to work and let him orchestrate a lot of things out there … Without him, we have to do it by committee,” said star Bucks player Khris Middleton.

The Bucks will need to turn to the play of Middleton, Brook Lopez, Jrue Holiday and others to fill the gap in scoring and rebounds left by Antetokounmpo’s untimely injury.

Game 1 of the finals is Tuesday, July 6. Milwaukee will travel to Phoenix for the tip-off.

UPDATE: Antetokounmpo has been upgraded to “questionable.”

The Milwaukee Bucks are now one win away from the NBA Finals after beating the Atlanta Hawks 123-112 on Thursday night. Both teams were without their main scorers in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Trae Young.

Bucks’ head coach Mike Budenholzer was able to adjust the team’s offensive style in the absence of Antetokounmpo. The shift in offensive tempo allowed center Brook Lopez to shine in Thursday’s win. Lopez scored 33 points, mainly through pick-and-rolls and dunks. Lopez utilized his size advantage to wreak havoc and score from inside the paint. It was a blast from the past for the big man. Vintage Lopez used to score over 20 points, usually from the low post during his days with the Brooklyn Nets.

It was not just Lopez who contributed in the win, but it was rather a team effort. All-Star Khris Middleton produced 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Jrue Holiday had 25 points and 13 assists. Holiday ran the pick-and-rolls that allowed Lopez to score.

The Bucks were also forcing the Hawks into turnovers. Atlanta committed 14 turnovers, and Milwaukee scored 16 points off of Atlanta’s mistakes. This game was a lesson for the young Hawks. They need to fix their interior defense if they want to stay alive. Milwaukee’s defense also did a great job limiting the Hawks’ ball movement.

The Hawks were led by Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had 28 points. Bogdanovic provided a glimmer of hope but it just wasn’t enough. However, if Bogdanovic could score more when Young hopefully returns for Game 6, it will take pressure off the All-Star point guard.

Milwaukee is one win away from making the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974.

Game 6 will tip-off on Saturday in Atlanta. It’s do-or-die time for the Hawks.

On Tuesday, the Atlanta Hawks easily cruised to a Game 4 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks completed a 110-88 rout of the Bucks to even the series.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Bucks were the favorites to win it since Hawks’ star Trae Young was ruled out just before game time due to a fluke injury. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, they were unprepared for the scoring of Lou Williams (21 points) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (20 points).

The Hawks started the game with a quick 15-5 run that set the tone for Milwaukee’s shooting woes. Williams finished the first half scoring 13 points as Atlanta held a 51-38 lead at halftime. The Hawks never trailed; it was a wire-to-wire victory.

Five minutes into the third quarter, Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo left the game with an injury. Antetokounmpo jumped to contest an alley-oop from John Collins to Clint Capela. The star landed awkwardly on his left leg, buckling his knee. He remained on the floor for several minutes before being helped to the locker room with a noticeable limp. The two-time MVP scored 14 points in 24 minutes before leaving.

“It just looked like their legs got tangled up,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after the game. “They both landed awkwardly. That’s what I saw live. I haven’t seen anything else.”

Milwaukee called it a hyperextended left knee injury. Antetokounmpo is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.

With Antetokounmpo gone, the Hawks extended their 10-point lead behind a 15-0 run as the Bucks remained scoreless for three and a half minutes. Jrue Holiday’s 19 points led the Bucks, and Khris Middleton added 16 points. Both players shot 6 for 17 from the floor. No other Bucks player reached double digits.

Milwaukee shot an abysmal 39% from the field as a team and 21% from three-point range on 39 attempts. On top of that, Milwaukee committed 15 turnovers that led to 16 points for the Hawks. The Bucks were unable to convert Atlanta’s mistakes into buckets. The Bucks scored just four points off Atlanta’s 11 turnovers.

With the series tied 2-2, the Eastern Conference finals shift back to Milwaukee, with both teams missing their respective superstars. Young and Antetokounmpo should each be considered questionable for the upcoming critical Game 5 matchup.

The Atlanta Hawks were dealt a major blow during Sunday’s 113-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Hawks’ star Trae Young headed to the locker room with less than 30 seconds left in the third quarter due to an ankle injury.

The injury occurred on a play with less than 36 seconds left in the third quarter. Young had the ball stolen from him by Jrue Holiday, and as he turned to try and run back on defense, Young stepped back onto the referee’s foot. He sprained his ankle and stayed down until play was stopped. The Hawks’ star then went to the locker room to be examined by the team’s medical staff. He was diagnosed with an ankle sprain and given the all-clear to return to the game.

The point guard returned early in the fourth quarter but was noticeably in pain. Atlanta head coach Nate McMillan admitted that the point guard was sore. “When he came back to the bench, I was told that he was available,” McMillan said. “Once he got out there, and I saw he wasn’t moving well when I took him out for the last few seconds, he couldn’t go back. I was basically looking to rotate his offense/defense, and he just couldn’t go back.”

Before his injury, the young star was performing well on the offense. He scored 14 points in the first quarter alone. He recorded his 32 points on 11-for-19 shooting and went 5-for-11 from three-point range.

“It’s sore right now. It’s hurting. It’s frustrating,” Young said. “Yeah, it’s hurting a little bit, and it’s sore. I got some treatment on it. I’m going to go get some more in the morning. That’s all I can do right now is get treatment.”

“When I came back in, it was kind of sore. It made me mad. I couldn’t really go as fast as I wanted to, and when I did, it hurt. So I’ve just got to get treatment and hopefully get it better for the next game.”

Young will be available for Game 4 on Tuesday night in Atlanta. The Bucks currently lead the series 2-1. The Hawks are considering Game 4 a must-win game since they travel to Milwaukee for Game 5 and Game 7 if necessary.

Trae Young is no stranger to carrying the weight of offensive production on his back for his team. He did it again in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, dropping 48 points and 11 assists en route to a 116-113 Hawks win.

Young discussed his team’s mindset given their underdog reputation during this playoff run.

“We didn’t get a high seed, so we’ve got to try to steal one on the road,” Young said. “Game 1 is definitely a game that you can really surprise that team. I think with the way we’ve been playing coming out of the gate, you can just tell we’re really focused on our attention to details when it comes to the other team.”

While the Bucks had fantastic production from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday, their offense was stifled by a lackluster performance from typical star Khris Middleton. Middleton sunk just 6 of his 23 shot attempts.

While both teams struggled to hit the deep ball, Young consistently made floaters and mid-range jumpers to propel his team to victory. Still, Milwaukee seemed to be in control of the game, leading 59-54 at halftime and 111-107 with just about two minutes remaining in the game. Yet, despite Holiday’s fantastic offensive night and Antetokounmpo’s presence in the paint, the Hawks battled back for the win.

John Collins connected on one of the few three-pointers made by the Hawks before Clint Capela placed in a layup after snagging an offensive rebound, putting Atlanta up 112-111. With a chance to tie the game in the final few seconds of play, Middleton continued his poor performance, missing an open three-point shot.

The Bucks look to bounce back in their second game and even the series at 1 apiece. Game 2 tips off in Milwaukee Friday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo willed the Bucks to victory with an incredible performance consisting of 40 points and 13 rebounds. The Bucks will head to the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Nets 115-111 in overtime of Game 7 at the Barclays Center.

Antetokounmpo was a key player for the Bucks as their two other stars, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, struggled for the majority of regulation. However, in the final minutes when the game was on the line, all three players excelled.

Kevin Durant scored 48 points going 17 of 36 on field goals and playing all 53 minutes of the game, however his performance was not enough.

Middleton scored the game-winner, a 13-foot jumper with 40.7 seconds remaining. Middleton’s massive bucket put the Bucks ahead 113-111.

Following Middleton’s shot, the Nets had several chances but failed to convert on in their next two possessions. Both possessions resulted in a missed two-point attempt by Durant. Durant’s final miss left just 0.3 seconds left on the game clock.

In the remaining moments of the game, the Nets committed a foul on Brook Lopez and sent him to the free-throw line. Lopez proceeded to drain both shots, providing a four-point advantage for the Bucks.

Despite Durant’s two late-game misses, he is not to blame for the loss as he hit an incredible 24-foot jumper with just 1.6 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Notable Performances:

• Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo: 40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists
• Bucks G Jrue Holiday: 13 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds
• Bucks G/F Khris Middleton: 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals
• Nets F Kevin Durant: 48 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
• Nets G James Harden: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists
• Nets F Blake Griffin: 17 points, 11 rebounds

The Milwaukee Bucks will make their second Eastern Conference Finals appearance in the last three seasons. The Bucks will face the Atlanta Hawks, who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of their series.

The NBA All-Defensive Team was announced Monday and includes Utah Jazz center, Rudy Gobert, who is also the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Two Milwaukee Bucks were selected in guard Jrue Holiday and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The final two players included on the team were Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green.

Miami Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were voted to the Second All-Defensive Team, joined by 76er teammates Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle. Former Finals MVP and star Clippers forward, Kawhi Leonard, also earned a spot in the Second All-Defensive Team.

Many of these honorees have earned this accolade in the past. Monday’s announcement marked Gobert’s fifth All-Defensive Team selection, Green’s sixth All-Defensive Team selection, with four first-team selections and two second-team selections. Leonard has appeared on the All-Defensive Team seven times.

Green is the only player earning this honor who did not appear in the 2021 postseason. Four of the final eight teams remaining in the playoffs are represented within these honors: the 76ers, Clippers, Jazz and Bucks.