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Eric WoodyardESPN
Under normal circumstances, a child and their family would have left Barclays Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a story for centuries.
For starters, there was no school for the holidays, as three former MVPs – Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden and Kevin Durant – went from foot to foot in a high-level showdown, with the Brooklyn Nets bordering the Milwaukee Bucks 125-123 .
Even in a fanless environment forced by the pandemic, the last five minutes of regulation between these two Eastern Conference centers have left those watching at home to quickly convey the thoughts of a potential playoff match.
After Brook Lopez of Milwaukee hit a 3-pointer with 5:01 to play the equalizer at 110, there were eight lead changes and 10 field goals. The 10 field goals initiated equaled the most in the last five minutes of a game that ended with regulation in the last 25 years, including in the playoffs, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Antetokounmpo almost got a triple-double with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists to go with two steals.
Here’s a closer look at how the last step went:
4:07 plays: Pat Connaughton hits with 3 points, Bucks leads 113-112
3:37 play: Harden hits the shot, Nets leads 114-113
Harden and Durant combined to score 64 points on Monday, becoming the first teammates to score 30 or more points in each of the first two games with a franchise, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
3:17 to play: Jrue Holiday makes layup, Bucks leads 115-114
1:55 play: Harden makes the jumper floating, the Nets lead 118-117
In the first half, Harden scored easily, but also had six turnovers, which were the highest in a half this season. However, he cleared it in the second half, with zero turnovers and a series of crucial games nearing the end, including this float as he drove on the lane over Lopez’s long arms, a center for the second defensive team. Through two games with the Nets, Harden scored or assisted on 129 points, which is the higher of a player’s first two games with a team in NBA history.
1:44 plays: Khris Middleton makes the lead lay-up, Bucks leads 119-118
1:17 to play: Antetokounmpo type-in breaks 119-119 tie, Bucks leads 121-119
Emotions were exposed early between Durant and Antetokounmpo, while Durant entered Giannis after a Nets bucket in the first quarter, then pushed him to the ground while running to another track. So, it was fair for the Greek Freak to attack the basket aggressively, with a two-handed lock back, in a missed shot by Holiday.
1:05 to play: Joe Harris makes 3 points, Nets leads 122-121
55.4 to play: Middleton makes 14-foot jumper, Bucks leads 123-122
36.8 to play: Durant hits 3 points, Nets leads 125-123
One of the biggest concerns with the Nets once they bought Harden was how the three stars will network during the crisis, although Kyrie Irving missed the seventh game in a row on Monday. Durant calmed that noise with a 3-pointer clutch for victory. Durant’s hoop, one of his iconic shots, came with the assistance of Harden, who recovered his own miss.
“We’re still trying to find our way and we still have room for improvement, but it’s a solid start,” Durant said.
1.1 to play: Middleton misses 23-foot 3-pointer, Nets win 125-123
Middleton finished the night with 25 points, but saw his 3-point attempt back and forth after catching an inning pass from the edge. Although several options were organized, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer had no problems with the attempt, even Antetokounmpo being the superstar of the team.
“Khris is very gifted. He came out of a shot. I thought he looked like he was coming in, so if you can take the ball to Khris,” Budenholzer said. “His feet work, his height, but there are multiple things we look at. Khris is one of those good-looking looks, Jrue’s good decision, Khris’ good shot. We’ll take that.”