Milwaukee was a party and the Bucks culminated it with a resounding victory over the Brooklyn Nets by 127-104 in the opening game of the 2021-2022 season, the 75th anniversary of the NBA. The Wisconsin team was thrilled, with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the helm. The Greek star added 32 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists and prolonged the euphoria in the packed stands of the Fiserv Forum. In the run-up to the game, more than 17,000 spectators celebrated the title that their team won last season after beating Phoenix Suns in the final. It was the second in Bucks history, fifty years after the first, in 1971, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson as big stars. As is traditional, the members of the squad received the rings that distinguish them as current champions. “For Milwaukee, it’s the beginning of many, many championships,” Bucks owner Marc Lasry proclaimed euphorically.
Then the Bucks completed a great performance against Brooklyn, the team that is a favorite according to many experts, starting with the NBA’s sports directors. The first appearance of the Nets, without Kyrie Irving, who remains separated from the team until he is vaccinated against covid-19, did not live up to what is expected of them. Despite the good numbers of Kevin Durant, with 32 points and 11 rebounds, of Harden, with 20 points, 8 rebounds and assists, and of Mills, with 21 points product of a fantastic 7 of 7 in the triples, the Bucks dominated from beginning to end. During many phases also with an overwhelming authority. Antetokounmpo was very well accompanied by Khris Middleton, with 20 points and 9 rebounds, Connaughton, also with 20 points, and second-year guard Jordan Nwora, with 15 points. Jrue Holiday, after scoring 12 points, was injured and could not play during the second half. The two teams relied heavily on 3-pointers. The Bucks had 17 3-pointers on 45 pitches and the Nets 17 on 32 attempts.
25 of the 75 best in history
The NBA, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, has released the names of 25 of the 75 best players in its history according to the vote carried out among journalists, coaches, sports directors and managers. Among the first 25 names that were revealed, legendary figures such as Bill Russell, Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Oscar Robertson and Hakeem Olajuwon stand out, some more recently retired players such as the German Nowitzki or the Canadian Steve Nash, and others active as the Greek Antetokounmpo, Harden or Kevin Durant. This Wednesday the names of another 25 players included in a list that will be completed this Thursday will be announced.
Sixers sanction Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons’ conflict with his team, the Philadelphia Sixers, has worsened after the 25-year-old Australian guard was kicked out of training by coach Doc Rivers. Simmons repeatedly refused to perform one of the exercises Rivers ordered. “I just thought it was a distraction. I didn’t think I wanted to do what everyone else was doing. Not much happened. I told him he had to go and we continued training, ”Rivers said. Simmons has been suspended by the Sixers with one game and will not be able to play the one that will face them this Wednesday against New Orleans. The point guard asked to be traded before the preseason began. He did not appear during the first weeks of training and has already accumulated 1.4 million dollars in fines due to his absence in four preparation games.
Milwaukee, 127; Brooklyn, 104
Milwaukee: Holiday (12), Grayson Allen (10), Middleton (20), G. Antetokounmpo (32), Brook Lopez (8) –initial team-; Mamukelashvili (0), T. Antetokounmpo (6), Connaughton (20), Hill (1), Robinson (3) and Kalaitzakis (0).
Brooklyn: Harden (20), Harris (9), Kevin Durant (32), Griffin (6), Claxton (12) –equipo inicial-; Millsap (0), J. Johnson (1), Aldridge (1), Mills (21), Carter (0), Bemry (0) y Thomas (2).
Partial: 37-25, 29-34, 31-25 and 30-19.
Fiserv Forum from Milwaukee. 17,341 spectators.
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