Five months ago, Kevin Durant’s jaw-dropping three-pointer in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks wasn’t enough to seal the deal. The shot only tied the game in Brooklyn, forcing overtime where the Bucks took control, outlasting Durant’s heroic efforts to eliminate the Brooklyn Nets.
Fast-forward a little over a month, and Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to its first NBA title in half a century, celebrating an unforgettable championship triumph.
Now, the stage is set for the Bucks to begin their title defense as they host the Nets on Tuesday night in the first game of the NBA season. Before the opening tip, Milwaukee will commemorate their historic run by raising the championship banner and receiving their rings in front of a raucous home crowd.
Milwaukee’s roster remains mostly intact from their six-game victory over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. The only notable departure is P.J. Tucker, who signed with the Miami Heat during free agency. However, the Bucks regain a crucial contributor in Donte DiVincenzo, returning from injury.
With a core trio of Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday, the Bucks aim to replicate their stunning postseason success, which saw them rally from 2-0 deficits twice—against the Nets and the Suns—to clinch glory.
Giannis was a force of nature in the Finals, averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and shooting 61.8% from the field—even after dealing with a hyperextended knee during the Eastern Conference finals. Against Brooklyn, he averaged 31.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, and shot 57.4%, including a 40-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 7.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, enters the opener healthier than they were last postseason, but they remain incomplete. Durant carried the load in the series against the Bucks, averaging 35.4 points, including 48 in Game 7 and a triple-double in Game 5. Injuries to Kyrie Irving (ankle) and James Harden (hamstring) hampered Brooklyn’s efforts, as Irving missed the final three games, and Harden was limited.
While Durant and Harden are set to play, Irving is unavailable due to his unvaccinated status, sidelined by New York City regulations requiring players to be vaccinated for home games. Rather than allow Irving to play only road games, the Nets decided to move forward without him as a “part-time player.”
In Irving’s absence, James Harden is expected to embrace a greater playmaking role, akin to his time with the Houston Rockets. Free-agent signing Patty Mills, who averaged 10.8 points and 37.5% from three last season with the San Antonio Spurs, could play a pivotal role off the bench. Newcomer Jevon Carter, acquired in a trade from Phoenix, has also earned praise from coach Steve Nash.
Despite the setback, the Nets remain among the title favorites, powered by the dynamic duo of Durant and Harden. Last season, Durant averaged 26.9 points in 35 games, while Harden posted 24.6 points and 10.9 assists in 36 games following his arrival from Houston in a midseason trade.
The Nets revamped their roster in the offseason, adding veterans like Mills and Paul Millsap while retaining key pieces like Blake Griffin and Bruce Brown, who will step into the starting lineup in Irving’s absence.
