Bucks’ Khris Middleton equals Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with a historic statline in Game 4 win vs Heat

Samir Mehdi | 07/09/2020
Khris Middleton equals Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Khris Middleton becomes the first Bucks player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to put up 35-8-8 in a playoff game with historic performance vs Heat in Game 4.

The Milwaukee Bucks had a date with the Miami Heat on Sunday night, in a win-or-go-home game for the Milwaukee Bucks as they went down 0-3 in the series.

Giannis Antetokounmpo came out firing on all cylinders as he had 19 points in just 11 minutes of action. However, early in the 2nd quarter, Giannis seemed to turn his injured right ankle, effectively ruling him out for the game.

Also read: What happened to Giannis Antetokounmpo? Extent of Bucks star’s ankle injury in Game 4 vs Heat

Most fans might have thought the game was over, in favour of the Miami Heat, but Khris Middleton had other ideas.

Khris Middleton puts up Kareem-like numbers in Game 4 to give the Bucks the win.

With Giannis out for the rest of the game, Middleton was the Bucks best player on the floor, and he proved that he was, by posting up 36 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.

This type of a statline has not been put up by a Bucks player in the Playoffs since NBA legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar in the 1970s.

Middleton also shot an efficient 43% from beyond the arc, including the dagger 3 in OT to seal the Bucks win, with 6 seconds left in the game.

After the game, Khris Middleton said Giannis Antetokounmpo’s performance in those 11 minutes on an injured ankle motivated the team to pull through for the win.

Can the Milwaukee Bucks win Game 5 if Giannis is not available?

This is the first game the Bucks have won in this series, and it is the only game the Bucks have played without Giannis in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

The Bucks All Star was very confident in his team’s abilities to perform without the 2019 MVP, calling the Bucks a “complete team”.

Post Edited By: Utkarsh Bhatla
Giannis Antetokounmpo Khris Middleton Milwaukee Bucks NBA playoffs

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Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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