With Giannis Antetokounmpo out, Brook Lopez steps up big time to help the Milwaukee Bucks get even with the Miami Heat
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Giannis Antetokounmpo was unavailable, and one of the players that the Milwaukee Bucks counted on to step up was Brook Lopez. The veteran center gamely answered the call.
Lopez once again showed up when the Bucks needed him the most as he led the Milwaukee Bucks to a series-tying 138-122 win over the Miami Heat in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series on Wednesday night.
Antetokounmpo was out due to a back injury that he sustained in Game 1, but Lopez was there to fill the void and provided the Bucks the needed muscle in the paint.
Going to Brook exclusively
In a game where they led by as many as 36 points, the Bucks went to Lopez more often, and the Splash Mountain did not disappoint by going 12-for-17 from the field to finish with a team-high 25 points.
Brook was on one tonight.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 20, 2023
25 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST | 1 BLK pic.twitter.com/N1boyPo4AD
Lopez was so focused on manning the paint for the Bucks that he only attempted one shot from the three-point area.
With Lopez imposing his will in the paint, the Bucks' perimeter players had a field day that led to the team tying an NBA record for three-pointers made in a game with 25.
Not taking credit
Lopez just scored 10 points in their 130-117 Game 1 loss. By the end of the first quarter of Game 2, he already had 14 points.
Lopez was quick to deflect credit, saying the crucial win was a product of a total team effort.
"Everyone's ready," Lopez said. "Everyone has the right mentality coming into the game - the mentality it takes to be a Milwaukee Buck. There's no one above anyone else. We're just out there trying to win."
Bucks tie an NBA record for most threes in a single playoff game with 25 three-pointers in a big win over the Heat. pic.twitter.com/vD21ysO4bO
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 20, 2023
The 15-year veteran has a penchant for stepping up when the Bucks are short-handed in a critical game.
In Milwaukee's title run in 2021, Antetokounmpo was out in Game 5 of their East finals duel with the Atlanta Hawks, but the Bucks still came out victorious behind the playoff career-high 34 points from Lopez.
On a night that the Bucks were facing the specter of falling to a 0-2 hole, Lopez once again stood the tallest—literally and figuratively.