Defending champions Milwaukee Bucks opened the play-offs with a lacklustre win, the Phoenix Suns also lived up to their role as favourites.
Even without a brilliant offensive performance, the Milwaukee Bucks have made a successful start to the play-offs. But in a 93-86 win over the Chicago Bulls, the defending champions were able to rely on their defence – and on Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The top star, who is one of the MVP finalists along with defending champion Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) and league top scorer Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds on a night when the Bulls let themselves be cracked late. The last time they led was at 78-77.
“We have to win the ugly games,” Jrue Holiday was quoted as saying in US media. “And I feel like this was ugly today.” On Wednesday, his Bucks host Chicago for their second meeting.
Paul turns it up in the final quarter
The Phoenix Suns were also not surprised at the start of their play-off duel with the New Orleans Pelicans. The best team in the preliminary round defeated the visitors, who had surprisingly won twice in the play-in tournament and eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers, with 110:99.
Chris Paul made everything clear in the last quarter. The soon to be 37-year-old scored 19 of his 30 points in this phase and was celebrated as the match-winner. “A classic Chris,” said his coach Monty Williams.
For the Pelicans, CJ McCollum was the top scorer with 25 points despite converting only nine of his 25 field attempts. The two teams meet again on Tuesday in Phoenix.