ATLANTA -- The Milwaukee Bucks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974 -- and they secured the final wins of the series without star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee won behind 32 points from Khris Middleton. Jrue Holoiday added 27 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
As the final buzzer sounded and Bucks players swarmed the center of the court, putting on hats and T-shirts that announced them as Eastern Conference champions, players hugged each other and laughed. Coaches embraced. Antetokounmpo, who has been out since injuring his knee in the third quarter of Game 4 when he landed awkwardly after contesting an alley-oop, was in the middle of it all -- a triumphant fist raised in the air.