MILWAUKEE — An electric atmosphere inside and outside Fiserv Forum powered the Bucks to their 13th straight home win, giving them a chance to win the series on the road Saturday against the Nets.
However, as Bucks fans left the Deer District, they hoped it was not the last time they watched their team this season in Milwaukee.
Thanks to 68 points between Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo, fans had a new chant after Thursday’s 104-89 win: “Bucks in seven.”
“Even though we’re going to be on the road in Brooklyn for Game 7, I truly believe the support is going to be there and our boys are going to bring it home,” Bucks fan Vitaliy Tufeld said. “We’re going to be in the Eastern Conference Finals.”
For the Bucks, it was a huge performance in a must-win game. It was an unforgettable trip for Tasha and Mike Banks, who made the drive Thursday from Appleton.
“It was a Father’s Day gift for me,” Mike Banks said. “My daughter’s getting her master’s at Marquette and they got together and got me playoff tickets.”
For thousands of others, Thursday was their first sold-out sports experience in more than a year, with win-or-go-home pressure on top of it.
“It felt refreshing in a sense because it’s finally like, ‘we’re back,’ Bucks fan Abby Lauer said. “I think we totally helped the Bucks pull it together and win the game.”
For the Bucks to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, they will need to accomplish what no Milwaukee team has: win a Game 7 on the road.
Home teams are 6-0 in this series, but Bucks fan Jordan Hopkins thinks Saturday night will be different.
“We know how to beat Brooklyn. We’ve done it many times,” Hopkins said. “Keep doing what works.”
Fans will pack the Deer District once again for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. tip-off in Brooklyn, hoping they will welcome the Bucks back to Milwaukee for another playoff series next week.