Giannis-less Bucks cool Heat's blistering start

For at least one night, the Milwaukee Bucks didn't miss Giannis Antetokounmpo at all.

Brook Lopez scored 25 points, Jrue Holiday added 24 and the hot-shooting Bucks withstood Antetokounmpo's absence while trouncing the Miami Heat 138-122 on Wednesday, tying their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at a game apiece.

Milwaukee shot 25 of 49 from 3-point range to match an NBA record for 3-pointers in a game as the Bucks showcased their depth by thriving without their two-time MVP. Pat Connaughton, who hadn't even played in Game 1, scored a playoff career-high 22 points and shot 6 of 10 from beyond the arc.

"Everyone's ready," Lopez said. "Everyone has the right mentality coming into the game — the mentality it takes to be a Milwaukee Buck. There's no one above anyone else. We're just out there trying to win."

Antetokounmpo remained out for Milwaukee after leaving the Bucks' 130-117 Game 1 loss early in the second quarter with a bruised lower back. He suffered the injury on a hard fall after getting fouled late in the first period during a drive to the basket.

"We'll continue to monitor him and expect for him to improve and still continue to be optimistic that soon he'll be ready to play," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game.

The Bucks' ability to succeed without their superstar assured this series would be tied as it heads to Miami for Game 3 on Saturday.

"I would like to be up 2-0, but that's in the past now," said Jimmy Butler, who led the Heat with 25 points. "So we're taking it to the crib, and we've got to handle business on our home floor."

Milwaukee now shares the NBA record for 3-pointers in a playoff game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who made 25 in a 123-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of the 2016 East semifinals.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a team that shot 11 of 45 from beyond the arc in its Game 1 loss.

"There was a stretch there where it seemed like everything was going in," said Grayson Allen, who was 4 of 8 from beyond the arc and scored 16 points.

Allen was one of six Bucks with at least 16 points as Milwaukee relied on a team effort to make up for Antetokounmpo's absence. Joe Ingles had 17 points while shooting 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Khris Middleton had 16.

"It takes the whole team," Middleton said. "I think you saw that tonight. It wasn't just one guy that carried us. A lot of people expect me or Jrue to take on all the load that Giannis does, but what he does, we can't match. So we have to do it by committee."

The Heat didn't have Tyler Herro, who broke his right hand in Game 1 and likely won't return this season unless Miami reaches the NBA Finals.

Agencies Via Xinhua