Aron Baynes and his Boston Celtics have been knocked out of the NBA playoffs by Giannis Antetokounmpo's top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks thrashed the Celtics 116-91 in Milwaukee on Thursday (AEST) to clinch the semi-final series 4-1 and move on to their first eastern conference finals since 2001.
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"It is amazing," Antetokounmpo said. "It was a team effort."
The Bucks will play the winner of the series between Ben Simmons' Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors.
The Kawhi Leonard-led Raptors lead 3-2 and will progress with a win in Friday's game six in Philadelphia.
The Celtics, with the return of injured All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward this season, were expected to challenge for the championship but they did not mesh and were outgunned by the Bucks.
Boston shot a season-low 31 per cent from the field and 18 per cent behind the three-point line in the decider, compared to the Bucks' 45 and 32 per cent.
It could be Irving's final game with the Celtics, with the point guard becoming a free agent and expected to entertain offers from the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and the LA Lakers – where he would re-unite with former Cleveland Cavaliers' teammate LeBron James.
Melbourne-born Irving struggled in the series against the Bucks, missing 58 of 83 field goals over the past four games – all defeats.
He had 15 points in game six, missing 15 of 21 field goals and six of seven three-pointers.
Boston coach Brad Stevens elevated Baynes to the starting line-up in an attempt to combat the length and power of NBA MVP candidate Antetokounmpo and it worked early on.
The big Queenslander put his body on the line and repeatedly thwarted Antetokounmpo from launching to the basket, but the "Greek Freak" was successful in finding open shooters.
Antetokounmpo finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two blocks while returning guard Malcolm Brogdon – back from a heel injury that had sidelined him since March 15 – was one of six other Bucks to score in double figures.
Baynes was scoreless but had six rebounds in 10 minutes on the court.
AAP
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