Marcus Smart on Jayson Tatum: ‘He gets overlooked’ in MVP race
Celtics guard Marcus Smart spoke with Mackenzie Salmon about the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and why the former gets overlooked in the MVP conversation.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
MILWAUKEE – This wasn’t what Milwaukee Bucks fans wanted to see in the first quarter of the team’s first playoff game: Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was writhing on the court in pain.
He had just tried to drive the paint, but Miami Heat defender Kevin Love attempted to draw an offensive foul at the 4:13 mark of the first quarter on Sunday at Fiserv Forum. Love was called for the foul, but Antetokounmpo suffered an awkward fall on his lower back and was clearly in intense pain.
Antetokounmpo stayed down for about a minute before getting up and making 1 of 2 free throws.
Antetokounmpo stayed in the game, even hitting a tough layup, before leaving with 1:46 left in first quarter. He went into the back of the arena.
Antetokounmpo emerged back on the bench in the second quarter and checked back in the game at the 9:46 mark.
But he could only play a few minutes before getting replaced by Jae Crowder. Antetokounmpo headed to the locker room again and a few minutes later the team ruled him out with lower back contusion.
He ended the game with six points and three rebounds in 11 minutes for the top-seeded Bucks.
