Bucks show they can put together a performance without Giannis

The Milwaukee Bucks outscored the Miami Heat in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series Wednesday, winning 138-122 to even the series.

The Bucks were without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was ruled out with a lower back contusion ahead of the contest. He suffered the injury in the first quarter of Game 1.

Brook Lopez led Milwaukee with 25 points on 12-of-17 shooting, but he was one of seven Bucks to score in double figures as the team drained 25 3-pointers, tying the playoff record.

Jrue Holiday had 24 points and Pat Connaughton scored 22 off the bench (going 6-of-10 from 3). Milwaukee led by as many as 36 points.

Jimmy Butler led Miami with 25 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field. The Heat and Bucks shot nearly identical 53.6 percent and 53.5 percent from the field, respectively.

Milwaukee Bucks rally without Giannis

Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks put together one of the best offensive nights in franchise playoff history in Game 2. They tied an NBA playoff single-game high with 25 3-pointers with seven players hitting at least one 3-pointer.

The Bucks leaned on Lopez to get them started in the first quarter and then let go a barrage of 3-pointers in a 46-point second quarter that opened up a 32-point lead. Without their MVP candidate, it was a complete team performance.

Poor shooting night for the Heat

The Heat struggled to stop the Bucks’ ball movement from the start, allowing open shots and Milwaukee momentum. Then the offense became problematic, as the Heat don’t have the weapons to consistently win a shootout.

Duncan Robinson, starting in place of Herro, didn’t score until the outcome was all but final. Kevin Love, after an 18-point Game 1, scored just four. And veteran guard Kyle Lowry has contributed only seven points and six assists in 37 minutes off the bench.

In addition to their record-tying 25 3-pointers, Milwaukee’s six players with 15 or more points matched an NBA postseason record.