The Milwaukee Bucks traded away All-Defensive guard Jrue Vacation final season to get Damian Lillard. Friday night time, Vacation made his previous staff pay down the stretch.
With the Celtics clinging to a three-point lead within the remaining minute, Vacation took a move from Jayson Tatum, drove previous a closeout from Khris Middleton and sank a floater from the free-throw line. Then, after Middleton made all three of his free throws, Vacation made each of his foul pictures to ice the sport with 14.2 seconds left, and Boston held on to beat the Bucks 111-105.
Vacation completed the sport with 20 factors, six assists, a steal and a block within the win. Lillard completed with 31 factors, 4 assists and a steal. Each gamers made 4 three-pointers, however Vacation did it on 9 makes an attempt, in comparison with Lillard’s 12.
This season, Vacation is averaging 18.7 factors and taking pictures 51.2 p.c towards his previous staff, making 45.8 p.c of his three-pointers. Boston is now 3-0 towards the Bucks this season and seven.5 video games forward of them within the standings. The staff is outscoring Milwaukee in three video games by 9.3 factors per sport when Vacation is on the ground.
For his half, Vacation has been gracious concerning the commerce. On FanDuel TV in November, Vacation did not blame the Bucks for dealing him.
“On paper, that commerce, including Dame — out of 10 individuals, who would not make that commerce?” Vacation said. “I would not, simply because it’s me. However that is simply the way it goes. That’s how the enterprise works.”
Nonetheless, it has to really feel good to beat the Bucks in a detailed sport. Although it in all probability felt even higher to win an NBA title whereas the Bucks misplaced within the first spherical.