Giannis Antetokounmpo: Bucks Forcing Game 7 vs. Celtics 'Big for Our Growth'

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo discussed the importance of forcing Game 7 with a 97-86 win over the Boston Celtics in their first-round playoff series Thursday. 

According to ESPN.com's Nick Friedell, the Greek Freak expressed his belief that the win means the Bucks are ready to take the next step as a team: "It's big. It's big for our growth, growing as a team. We were in the same position last year [against the Toronto Raptors], wasn't able to win Game 6. We have a big opportunity ahead of us, hopefully we can go to Boston and get ready for Game 7."

Milwaukee beat Boston on Thursday behind a game-high 31 points and 14 rebounds from Antetokounmpo.

The series has favored the home team thus far, with the road team coming out on the losing end every time.

That bodes well for the second-seeded Celtics in Saturday's Game 7, but with guard Kyrie Irving out for the season with a knee injury, they may not have the star power to match what Antetokounmpo brings to the table for Milwaukee.

Through six games, Antetokounmpo is averaging a remarkable 26.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists in these playoffs.

Milwaukee has been eliminated in the first round of each of its past seven playoff appearances, and it hasn't won a playoff series since the 2000-01 season.

The Bucks reached the Eastern Conference Finals that season behind the play of Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell.

If Milwaukee can pull off the upset in Game 7 against the Celtics, then a young and hungry Philadelphia 76ers will await Antetokounmpo and Co. in the second round.