Matthew Dellavedova delivered a trademark gritty performance to help the Milwaukee Bucks to a stunning game three win over Toronto in the NBA play-offs.
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The underdog Bucks thrashed the Raptors 104-77 to take a 2-1 lead in the best of seven game series.
In a performance that drew similarities to Dellavedova’s stunning rise to fame in the 2015 NBA play-offs, the Maryborough product gave Toronto stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan no peace with his aggressive defence and added 10 points on 4-5 shooting at the offensive end.
Dellavedova’s hard-nosed defence has worried the Raptors all series and in the second quarter of game three Lowry lost his cool with the Bucks’ star and threw an elbow towards the Aussies’ head.
Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd was full of praise for Dellavedova.
"Everybody is going to complain about somebody who plays hard, which is unfortunate because as a player, a coach and as a team-mate that's what you want," Kidd, in his rave review of Dellavedova, said.
"He does it every day in practice and in the game.
"That's Delly's DNA."
Another Aussie – Thon Maker, a 216cm tall 20-year-old who a year ago was in high school, has become a dynamic tandem with the Bucks' Greek 211cm-star, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Maker, who has started in all of the Bucks' play-off games, showed his versatility with a three-pointer and a mix of dunks and deft touches for his 11 points.
Antetokounmpo had 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
Game four is in Milwaukee on Sunday (AEST).
The Memphis Grizzlies struck back for their first win in the series against Patty Mills' San Antonio Spurs.
Grizzlies, playing in Memphis, comprehensively beat the Spurs 105-94.
San Antonio lead the series 2-1.
Grizzlies' guard Mike Conley had 24 points, centre Marc Gasol dropped 21 points and forward Zach Randolph was a force with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Canberra point guard Mills bounced back from a rough game two shooting night with 11 points, including sinking three of his five three-pointers.
Spurs' staring point guard Tony Parker had a barren night, failing to score a point in 18 minutes on the court.
Game four is in Memphis on Sunday (AEST).
LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers have a commanding 3-0 lead in their series after eradicating a 25-point half-time deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 119-114 in Indianapolis.
James had 41 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and two blocks in leading the largest half-time comeback in NBA play-off history.
Game four of the series is in Indianapolis on Monday (AEST).
That's Delly's DNA.
- Jason Kidd
