Bucks vs. Heat, Eastern Conference playoffs, Game 2
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The Milwaukee Bucks signed Bryn Forbes in November with the hopes that the veteran guard could help with outside shooting that had often gone cold at inopportune times in recent playoffs.
Well, the 6-foot-2 Forbes – dubbed “The Flamethrower” by the team on social media – was so hot Monday night in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Miami Heat that it was surprising he didn’t set off the sprinkler system at Fiserv Forum.
Forbes scored 19 points in 12 minutes off the bench in the first half to help ignite a record-smashing performance as the Bucks rode that scorching start to a 132-98 victory.
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Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Miami with Game 3 on Thursday.
Forbes finished with 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 6 of 9 on three-pointers. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 31 points and 13 rebounds.
The Bucks were bounced by the Heat in five games in the second round of last season’s playoffs in the NBA bubble, with frigid outside shooting being one of the biggest problems.
BOX SCORE: Bucks 132, Heat 98
With the additions of several new players, including Forbes and Jrue Holiday (11 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds) in the backcourt, it has been a different story this season. In December, the Bucks set a franchise record by making 29 threes in a rout of Miami.
That mark looked like it might fall on Monday. The Bucks couldn’t reach 29, but did set a franchise playoff record by making 22 to top the previous mark of 20.
After a turnover on its first possession, Milwaukee couldn’t be stopped in the first half. Antetokounmpo nailed a three-pointer, then powered his way to a layup and Donte DiVincenzo knocked down a long three to make it an 8-0 start. After Antetokounmpo’s putback made it 12-2, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra called a timeout.
Forbes came off the bench and continued the hot start. He had a personal 8-0 run that included a floater in the paint and 2 three-pointers, pushing the lead to 29-10 and necessitating another timeout by Spoelstra.
After going 5 for 31 from long range in Game 1, Milwaukee started 5 of 8 on three-pointers in the first seven minutes.
Three consecutive three-pointers – one by Forbes and two by Pat Connaughton – made it 38-14.
The Bucks finished 10 for 15 on three-pointers in the first quarter for a 46-20 lead. Forbes had 14 points. The 10 threes tied a NBA playoff record for threes in a quarter, matching the Cavaliers against the Hawks on May 4, 2016.
The Bucks didn’t cool down in the second quarter, with the advantage ballooning to 67-36 at the 4:56 mark on a three-pointer by Khris Middleton.
Milwaukee smashed its franchise playoff mark for threes in a half, shooting 15 for 29 (52.7%), with Forbes going 5 of 8. The Bucks had made 11 in a half twice before.
Milwaukee went into the break with a 78-51 lead. It was the most points the Bucks have scored in the first half of a playoff game, eclipsing the 77 they dropped on Philadelphia in 1970.
The Heat was deflated by the onslaught, finishing 17 for 41 (41.5%). Dewayne Dedmon was the lone bright spot for the Heat, scoring 13 points off the bench.
The action bogged down in the third quarter, with the Heat being called for two Flagrant 1 fouls after official reviews.
The Bucks didn’t make a three in the second half until Connaughton nailed one at the 1:47 mark. Bobby Portis added another one a minute later. Forbes kept it going by knocking one down in the corner with 15 seconds remaining in the third to make it 107-77.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer emptied his bench midway through the fourth quarter.
Connaughton hit the 20th three that tied the team playoff record at the 5:29 mark and then Jordan Nwora sank one just over a minute later.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks 132, Heat 98: Bryn Forbes’ hot start sparks an offensive explosion in Game 2