Following Kevin Durant’s masterpiece on Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks return home with their backs against the wall, facing an elimination game six. Our NBA picks have the best analysis and predict the winner of tonight’s clash, letting you know if the Nets can end Milwaukee’s season tonight.
Will KD be able to back up his 49 points? Can Giannis step up and deliver when his team needs him most? Who will come out on top tonight? Our NBA picks have all of the answers and every bit of information you need before placing your bets tonight!
Brooklyn Nets @ Milwaukee Bucks (Game 6) – 8:30pm EDT
Take a bow, Kevin Durant. A career defining performance from Durant not only cemented his place as one of the best the NBA has ever seen, but also gave his Brooklyn Nets an important 3-2 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks. After trailing by as many as 17 during the third quarter, Durant put the team on his back to deliver the win, despite the odds stacked against them.
A 31 point, eight rebound, seven assist second half capped off a performance for the ages, with Durant scoring 20 of his 49 points in the fourth quarter alone. The most important, and impressive, aspect is that he played all 48 minutes, putting his body on the line for the Nets and ultimately, getting the reward at the end of the game.
At the 6:20 mark of the 3rd quarter, Milwaukee led 76-60. From that point forward, Brooklyn outscored the Bucks 54-32. Kevin Durant had 31 of that 54.
Durant single-handedly nearly outscored the entire Bucks team over the last 18 minutes of game time.
— Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) June 16, 2021
Many expected that Durant would need a night like that, as he was supposed to be going solo, at least from a superstar perspective. Luckily, James Harden, who missed the last 3.99 games with a hamstring injury, returned to the lineup. It wasn’t much of a return, with Harden managing just five points on 1/10 shooting, however he played 46 minutes and has already been cleared to play in game six, proving his health. Luckily for Brooklyn Jeff Green put in the best postseason performance of his career, scoring 27 points on 7/8 shooting from deep.
To make matters worse for Milwaukee, they had the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All Defensive Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo hiding in the corner, guarding Joe Harris. In the fourth quarter, Durant took nine jump shots, all nine were ‘heavily contested’ and he made six. Imagine if the extra length of 6’11 Antetokounmpo was guarding him, making everything more difficult.
Instead Durant had 6’7 Khris Middleton and 6’5 PJ Tucker manning him up, much easier opponents when getting off a jump shot. Antetokounmpo, who had 34 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks for the game, has said that he will take on the task of defending Durant in game six, but it may be too little, too late. Five different Milwaukee players scored in double figures, compared to just three for Brooklyn, proving that this is clearly going to be the one that got away.
Alas, they must move on and prepare for an elimination game six. Something they would have never thought they had to do with a 17 point lead in the third quarter of game five. Antetokounmpo has to be more assertive, on both ends of the floor. While he made two threes in game five, he needs to live in the paint, dominating inside and taking advantage of his size mismatches he has had all series.
The Greek Freak has been selected to the 2021 All-NBA First Team!! pic.twitter.com/g1TSqXrIOl
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 16, 2021
Jrue Holiday will also be a massive determinant in the result, with foul trouble causing him to sit for most of the first half and then playing passive in the second half to avoid getting calls. His defense on Harden, but also his playmaking ability, will be required for the Bucks to be successful, and was a big reason why they weren’t on Tuesday.
Ultimately, Kevin Durant put in the performance of his career and the Nets won by just six points. Now the series shifts back to Milwaukee for game six, in front of their home fans, in a stadium where they are 4-0 this postseason, and their backs are well and truly against the wall. The Bucks have a lot of pressure on them, but they are better equipped to get the job done and should force a game seven.
NBA Pick – Milwaukee Bucks (-225)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
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Photo By: Corleone Brown
