Bucks Heat Playoffs

2021 NBA Playoffs: Baby, it’s Jrue

Myer Lee

Khris Middleton’s go-ahead jumper with 0.5 seconds left on the shot clock was impressive, but was not the main reason the Bucks overcame the Heat Saturday. 

It was rather Jrue Holiday – the feisty veteran guard the Bucks acquired from the Pelicans in the offseason. 

Holiday finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and a game-high plus/minus of plus 10, which validated he was the most impactful player on the floor. 

Jrue Holiday’s presence helped the Bucks defeat the Heat 109-107 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff matchup. Holiday’s stellar game showed he could be the missing piece Milwaukee needs to get past Miami this year. 

Miami shocked the NBA world last year by eliminating Milwaukee in five games in the second round of the playoffs. The embarrassed Bucks had to respond by getting more help for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Enter Holiday and his four-year $160 million contract.. 

The Bucks investment paid off Saturday as Holiday made key plays in tight moments of the game. 

He scored 11 points in the third quarter and the last nine points of the period for Milwaukee, giving them a two-point lead heading into the fourth. 

In the final period, he made big layups, free throws and steals that either put the Bucks ahead or marginally extended their lead. His biggest play, perhaps, was when he blocked Heat star Jimmy Butler’s shot at the end of the game – securing the Bucks’ victory. 

“He gives us a punch,” said Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer of Holiday. “Somebody that can get to the paint, finish, make tough shots, make good decisions and use his defense to create offense.” 

Holiday did all of those things for the Bucks yesterday to help them withstand the Heat’s barrage they couldn’t handle last year. He matched the energy of Heat players Goran Dragic and Duncan Robinson who terrorized the Milwaukee in the 2020 playoffs. 

“This is going to be a challenging series; it’s going to be fun,” Holiday said. “Every game is going to come down to this. We know that and we want to play harder than the Heat do.”