What once looked like a runaway series has turned into a nail-biter, with Milwaukee returning home Thursday night for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals needing a win to keep control against Toronto. The Raptors are nursing some injuries, and the Bucks might need to switch up their strategy, or at least quit allowing themselves to be distracted by Drake. The rapper gave Raptors coach Nick Nurse a back rub and talked trash with Giannis Antetokounmpo during Game 4, and Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer had a problem with it. Meanwhile, the Warriors continue to wait, knowing they’ll be heavy favorites against the survivor.
Toronto is very much back in this series, and now it’s a best-of-three. Buckle up.
Bucks-Raptors living up to the hype 🍿
Greek Freak:
22.8 PTS | 16.0 REB | 3.0 BLKThe Klaw:
29.3 PTS | 8.3 REB | 2.3 STL pic.twitter.com/2eJZDJEpGy— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2019
The Bucks’ Mike Budenholzer would like the coaches to coach, the players to play and Drake … to go back to doing whatever it is Drake does during games.
Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer didn’t hold back his feelings for Drake’s actions in Game 4. pic.twitter.com/tReilGxdfy
— ESPN (@espn) May 22, 2019
Kyle Lowry didn’t look injured when he dropped a 30-piece on the Bucks in Game 4, but apparently he is nursing quite a bit of discomfort.
Kyle Lowry will be playing through “a lot of pain” when the Raptors take the court for Game 5 against the Bucks https://t.co/7Uo8AL0ZJX
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 23, 2019
Meanwhile, the Warriors have a whole nine days off to rest, get healthy and prepare for one of these teams. Something tells me they’re just fine with that.
“The series is tied at 2 as the battle for the East between the Bucks and Raptors is really heating up!”
The Warriors: pic.twitter.com/R1NQ9VoJ8w
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) May 22, 2019
No real surprises on the NBA’s All-Defensive Team. A bunch of guys who stop the ball and swat the ball.
2018-19 NBA All-Defensive:
First team: Rudy Gobert, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Marcus Smart, Eric Bledsoe.
Second team: Jrue Holiday, Klay Thompson, Joel Embiid, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 22, 2019
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