By David Awopetu
Khris Middleton starred and rose to the occasion as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 118-115 in overtime on Sunday to stay alive in the NBA playoffs, despite Star Giannis Antetokounmpo injured.
Middleton scored 21 of his 36 points in the third quarter, then made a huge three-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in overtime and the Bucks topped the Miami Heat 118-115 in Game 4 of their series on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo, on course to win his second consecutive NBA MVP award this season, reinjured his sprained right ankle in the second period.
Antetokounmpo, who could miss Thursday’s fifth game with his side trailing 3-1, had made a strong start with 19 points in 11 minutes of the first quarter before he was taken off.
The 25-year-old, who was named this season’s defensive player of the year, had injured his ankle in the third quarter of the third game, but he was declared fit after completing a warm-up on Sunday.
He was averaging 27.6 points and 15.0 rebounds in eight play-off games before Sunday, but the Bucks sealed victory as Khris Middleton stepped up to score 36 points in Antetokounmpo’s absence.
“We all fought, especially with Giannis going down the way he did,” said one of six Bucks players to score double figures in the must-win game, Middleton.
In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 117-109 to level their series at 1-1.
Inspired by the 34 points of Anthony Davis, who combined with LeBron James for 62 points and 21 rebounds, the Lakers held off the Rockets’ second-half comeback.
