The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals to take a 2-0 lead as the series moves to Canada, Tyreke Evans violated the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program while the race for the NBA MVP Award has come down to three players.
Halfway: Bucks top Raptors 125-103 for 2-0 series lead | Associated Press
The Milwaukee Bucks took a 2-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals after a comfortable 125-103 win in Game 2. Giannis Antetokounmpo led his team with a double-double of 30 points and 17 rebounds while Ersan Ilyasova chipped in with 17 points off the bench.
“He plays so hard, he lays it all on the line, every time,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It was a great start for us. I think everybody fed off of Giannis and how he started the game.”
#FEARTHEDEER@Giannis_An34 posts 30 PTS, 17 REB, 5 AST as the @Bucks take a 2-0 series lead! #NBAPlayoffs
Game 3: Sunday (5/19), 7pm/et, TNT pic.twitter.com/FMTqDj5UIR
— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2019
Indiana Pacers guard Tyreke Evans suspended for violating NBA’s Anti-Drug Program | ABC News
Former Sacramento Kings and most recently, Indiana Pacers guard, Tyreke Evans, has been dismissed and disqualified from the league for violating the terms of the NBA/National Basketball Players Association anti-drug program.
Evans is now forced to spend two years on the sidelines and he can be reinstated only with the approval of both the NBA and the Players’ Association.
Tyreke Evans tested positive for "drugs of abuse." According to ESPN (when Chris Andersen was dismissed for this), "The drugs on that list are amphetamine and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP."
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) May 17, 2019
NBA MVP finalists: Giannis, George, Harden | Reuters
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George, and James Harden are the strongest candidates to win the NBA MVP Award this season while Giannis and George are also in contention for the Defensive Player of the Year honor.
James Harden is defending the prestigious title, while Antetokounmpo and George have never won the MVP award.
The 2018-2019 NBA MVP candidates:
• Paul George
• James Harden
• Giannis Antetokounmpo pic.twitter.com/V2EuJ1VkVH— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 18, 2019
Source: Lakers will not hire a replacement for Magic | ESPN
Magic Johnson stepped down from his role with the Los Angeles Lakers over a month ago and the team announced it will not look for a replacement, at least not anytime soon. General manager Rob Pelinka will continue with his role.
“My role as the GM right now is the same as it was when we selected Lonzo Ball with the second pick, which is our last high pick,” Pelinka said. “My role hasn’t changed since then.”
The Lakers have decided they will not hire a President of Basketball Operations to replace Magic Johnson, a team source told ESPN.
General manager Rob Pelinka will continue in his role, reporting directly to ownership. Pelinka had previously reported to Johnson
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 17, 2019
Gasol points finger at self after Raptors’ loss | ESPN
The Toronto Raptors lost Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks and Marc Gasol was mad at himself.
“The beginning [of the game] set us in a really bad spot,” Gasol said. We couldn’t get a grip of the game early on, and I take full responsibility for that. I played really bad, and that set the tone.”
Is Marc Gasol going to help Kawhi so Raptors won’t have to rely on Kawhi as much? Gasol 1-9 with 2 pts in tonite’s gm. That’s why Kawhi is a volume shooting now. Who else can he consistently rely on to deliver? #StillBabyTheDinosaurs
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) May 18, 2019
