Timeout, Milwaukee.
It occurred with 4:27 to go within the fourth quarter of the Nets’ convincing 118-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday evening.
Kevin Durant walked to the bench and slapped arms with Jacque Vaughn. Kyrie Irving bumped chests with Royce O’Neale. The whole Nets bench rose to its toes and cheered the starters.
While the Bucks walked to the bench with their heads hanging, with their head coach drawing up performs that finally wouldn’t influence the end result.
This is the way you make an announcement.
The Nets entered the Christmas weekend with one purpose: to additional prolong their profitable streak by beating the hardest opponent they’ve performed in practically three weeks.
It wasn’t even shut. The Nets do, certainly, belong with the NBA’s cream of the crop after disposing of the 2021 NBA champions on Friday evening.
It was an 11-degree day that featured intermittent rainstorms turned slippery ice within the streets of New York City, however the Nets have been red-hot of their victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks the evening earlier than Christmas Eve. They hit 14 threes on 32 makes an attempt and recorded 30 assists on 46 made subject objectives.
Brooklyn has now received eight in a row, 12 of its final 13, and boasts an 19-7 document since Jacque Vaughn succeeded Steve Nash as head coach seven video games into the season.
It took a training grasp class from Vaughn, some well timed shot-making and elite protection from Ben Simmons on Antetokounmpo to ship the Nets their first signature victory over a championship-contending opponent as a (principally) totally wholesome group this season.
The Bucks have been with out All-Star ahead Khris Middleton, who continues to overlook time with a knee damage. Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris was additionally a late scratch after reporting soreness in his left knee shortly earlier than tip-off.
And the Nets have been additionally largely with out Kyrie Irving, who went the primary three quarters with just one made subject purpose underneath the defensive strain of lockdown Bucks guard Jrue Holiday and ex-Nets hound Jevon Carter.
Simmons performed his finest recreation since coming back from a calf damage that value him 4 straight video games. He tallied 12 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists on the evening. Most importantly, Simmons put strain on Antetokounmpo on the half court docket line. He made life as troublesome for the two-time league Most Valuable Player of the Year as any participant who has suited up in a Nets jersey for the reason that Bucks drafted The Greek Freak in 2013.
Simmons additionally confirmed a stage of offensive aggression that had beforehand been missing after an offseason that included a process on his decrease again. On one fastbreak possession, Simmons went with a between the legs escape dribble right into a one-handed working hook shot. On one other possession, he drove proper up Antetokounmpo’s chest to complete on the rim.
Simmons’ efficiency was promising, each in his match pushing the ball in transition to seek out open shooters and in his energy guarding Antetokounmpo, who routine bullies opponents on his solution to 30-plus-point triple doubles.
Antetokounmpo completed with 26 factors, 13 rebounds and 7 assists, however there have been minimal head-scratching defensive possessions. Where the Bucks usually went for the cross-match of Antetokounmpo on Irving, the Nets have been solely a dribble away from sending assist.
The victory over a Bucks crew that has had largely the identical core for the final 5 years is proof the Nets are en path to constructing an identical stage of continuity in Brooklyn.
Kevin Durant completed with 24 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists, taking pictures 9-of-17 from the sphere. Irving shook off a chilly first three quarters to complete with 18 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Six completely different Nets scored in double figures, with O’Neale torching the Bucks for 17 factors on five-of-eight taking pictures from three-point vary.
And the Nets proved they will dangle with the NBA’s elite — one thing they’ll have one other likelihood to affirm with the looming Dec. 26 matchup in opposition to Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com