MILWAUKEE — It’s something Milwaukee Bucks fans haven’t seen in quite some time — a full Fiserv Forum cheering on the team in a high stakes playoff game.

What You Need To Know

  • The Milwaukee Bucks lost the first two games of the second round of the playoffs to the Brooklyn Nets

  • Because of COVID-19, Game Three was the first game this season with 100% attendance at Fiserv Forum

  • No NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs to win a series

  • Game Four is Sunday at 2 p.m. in Milwaukee

“That’s the reason we’re here,” said Nick Kehler.  

Kehler and his son, Reed, drove down from Green Bay for the pivotal Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets. 

They typically go to a few games every year, but because of COVID-19 and restrictions, Thursday night’s game was their first of the season.

“I took a half day from work and came down here. [It was] my son’s last day of school, perfect day for him to remember and hopefully we bring back a big ‘W,’ Kehler said. 

Kahler said before the game he thought the crowd’s energy could help get the Bucks back on track in the series, after losing the first two games of the second round in Brooklyn. 

“The energy? It’s going to be lit tonight,” Kehler said. "We’re going to be bringing our voices. It’s going to be loud. I hope the Bucks come out and feed off that energy tonight especially in the first quarter. The’ve got to get ahead.”

That’s exactly what happened. 

The Bucks went on a 9-0 run to start the game, and ended the first quarter leading the Nets 30 to 11. 

The fans lived and died with every play, whether it was a good or bad three-point attempt, or a defensive rebound, they made themselves heard and played a big role in the game. 

Havranek caught up with the Kehlers after the nail biting victory. 

“It was amazing. First quarter? All the energy went towards the Bucks,” Kehler said. "Whenever Giannis got a dunk, it was like thunder shooting down."

“I think the crowd did almost everything for the Bucks that game. Especially the first quarter,” Nick’s son, Reed Deterville-Kehler said. "The Nets couldn’t hit a shot. KD and Kyrie who are usually pretty good could not hit anything.”

As for whether the atmosphere inside Fiserv Forum was, as Kehler called it, ‘lit?’

“It was on FIRE! Woo!”

It was a night ‘on fire’ Kehler and his son, and the rest of Bucks Nation hopes is the turning point of this series. 

Game Four is Sunday at 2 p.m. in Milwaukee.