For much of Boston’s 112-90 victory over Milwaukee in Game 1 on Sunday, the Bucks’ All-Star forward navigated the court like a driver whose GPS was failing to connect. Antetokounmpo pressed the Celtics’ defense for seams but usually encountered roadblocks, and his struggles to exert his typical MVP-level dominance in the paint short-circuited the Bucks’ offense.
The final damage: Milwaukee ceded home-court advantage in the second-round series, and the 22-point deficit was biggest margin of defeat of the season. After a dream season in which Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to 60 wins, he suddenly finds himself at a crossroads against a physical and experienced defense that is completely focused on stopping him.