Nets suffer double setback against surging Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 34 points and 12 rebounds as the host Milwaukee Bucks rolled to a 107-96 victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals over the Brooklyn Nets, who lost Kyrie Irving to a sprained right ankle.

The series is tied at two games apiece and Game 5 is Tuesday in Brooklyn. Although X-rays of Irving’s ankle were negative, his availability for the remainder of the series is uncertain.

The Bucks followed up winning a defensive struggle in Game 3 on Thursday to assure the series will last at least six games.

Antetokounmpo produced his best game of the post-season by shooting 14-of-26 from the field. He scored 12 points in the decisive third quarter, when the Bucks took control.

Khris Middleton followed up his 35-point showing from Game 3 by adding 19 points as the Bucks made 44.3 per cent of their shots and hit 16 three-pointers. This came after they had managed to make only 22.7 per cent (20-of-88) from behind the arc in the first three games of the series.

Jrue Holiday added 14 and P.J. Tucker chipped in 13 when he was not shadowing Kevin Durant defensively.

Durant totalled 28 points and 13 boards, but the Nets gradually fell apart after Irving was injured on a layup with 6:04 remaining left in the second quarter. Irving fell to the floor in pain after awkwardly stepping on Antetokounmpo’s foot after making a layup.

Durant struggled against Tucker’s physicality, making only 9-of-25 shots, including just 1-of8 three-point attempts. The Nets committed 17 turnovers.

Irving finished with 11 points in his 17 minutes of action, as no other Net reached double figures in their third straight game with James Harden watching from the sidelines due to right hamstring tightness.

The Nets led early, building an 11-point lead before the Bucks rallied. Milwaukee went on a 19-2 surge, and Irving’s injury occurred soon after Antetokounmpo’s dunk put Milwaukee ahead for good at 37-36. From there, the Bucks gradually pulled away.

Milwaukee held a 53-48 lead at halftime, surged to a 74-57 lead on a three-pointer by Bryn Forbes with 3:37 left in the third quarter. When Middleton hit a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds on the clock, they carried an 81-69 lead into the fourth quarter.

Milwaukee took a 97-78 edge with about seven minutes left on a 3-pointer by Holiday and finished off when Antetokounmpo’s dunk made it 101-84 with 3:46 left.

MITCHELL SAYS HE’LL RETURN FOR JAZZ

Nagging pain in his right ankle won’t stop Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell from suiting up for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Mitchell scored 30 points in 32 minutes for the top-seeded Jazz but missed the final seven minutes of Saturday’s 132-106 loss after tweaking the ankle.

Game 4 is Monday night in Los Angeles, and he insisted he’ll be ready to play.

“It’s been just trying to manage it,” Mitchell said. “I don’t really know what else to tell you. I don’t want to say too much. It was just the landing, but I’m good. I’ll be ready for Game 4.”

Mitchell says he could have come back into Saturday’s game, but the lopsided score made it pointless.

“I feel like I was able to go back, but no need to risk it down 16, 18 at that point,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell missed the final 16 games of the regular season and Utah’s playoff opener with a sprain in the same ankle.

He appeared to reinjure the ankle with seven minutes remaining and left the contest. The Clippers took advantage by scoring 10 straight points, making it 116-95 with 5:22 left.

Mitchell was pleading with Jazz coach Quin Snyder during the latter portion of the Los Angeles run to let him go back into the game but was turned down.

SIXERS AIMING TO BUILD ON LEAD

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers has yet to reveal his hand ahead of Monday’s Game 4 of the team’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the host Atlanta Hawks.

Rivers, after all, will need to shuffle the deck in relation to his starting lineup after three-time NBA champion Danny Green suffered a strained right calf during Philadelphia’s 127-111 romp over Atlanta on Friday.

The 76ers hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Matisse Thybulle initially replaced Green after the latter was injured in the first quarter on Friday, however, Furkan Korkmaz saw extended minutes and finished with a career playoff-best 14 points.

“I don’t think there’s any better motivation than starting the game because you know you need to set the tone with the starters and you need to be good,” Korkmaz said.

“That makes you motivated, and I like to play with the first unit, too. I’m really used to it, and I don’t think it’s going to be so hard for me to adjust. I’ve been doing that all year. I’m excited about it, but also, from the other side, I hope Danny is going to recover.”

While there’s some question about the team’s fifth starter, there’s little mystery surrounding Joel Embiid.

Embiid is averaging 35.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists over the first three games of this series, all while playing with a small right lateral meniscus tear.

He also gave Sixers fans some anxious moments following a pair of awkward falls on Friday.