Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo said Thursday he's confident teammate Jrue Holiday will bounce back after a slow start to the 2021 NBA Finals.

Holiday has connected on just 11 of his 35 shot attempts (31.4 percent) through the first two games of the Finals as the Phoenix Suns surged to a 2-0 series lead.

"I know he's going to be there when we need him the most, and I don't worry about it," Antetokounmpo told reporters after a 118-108 loss in Game 2. "He's a great basketball player. He's played great all year, and he's going to continue to play great for this team."

Holiday has found a way to impact the Finals in other ways, tallying 16 assists, 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocks while playing his typically strong defense, but the Bucks will need him to make his presence felt offensively if they're going to forge a comeback.

The 31-year-old UCLA product was aggressive attacking the rim Thursday night but couldn't get his shots to fall, going just 7-of-21 from the field.

"I think we had a lot of open shots that we didn't make," Holiday said. "I know me personally, there were a couple layups there that I usually make that kind of rimmed in and out. Had some good looks."

Holiday and the other three non-Giannis members of the starting lineup combined to make only 19 of their 52 field-goal attempts (36.5 percent) in Game 2, which squandered a standout showing from Antetokounmpo, who went 15-of-22 en route to 42 points.

"Just keep talking to him, keep telling him to be aggressive," Antetokounmpo said about what he'd tell Holiday for Game 3. "No matter what's going on, you've got to stay aggressive and you cannot get in your feelings. It's hard not to. You know, NBA Finals, 20,000 people booing you and all that, it's kind of hard."

Although the Suns are in the driver's seat with their 2-0 lead, the Bucks have been in this position before during their playoff run. They dropped the first two contests against the Brooklyn Nets before mounting a comeback to advance in seven games.

If they're going to replicate that comeback, Antetokounmpo is going to need more help from Holiday and Khris Middleton to keep pace with a deep Phoenix offensive attack led by Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

A critical Game 3 is scheduled for Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo said coming back from an 0-2 series deficit in the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns is "going to be all mental."

The Suns scored a 118-108 victory in Game 2 to successfully defend their home floor as the series shifts to Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee for the next two contests.

"I think no matter what we say, we know what the deal is," Antetokounmpo told reporters Thursday. "It's as simple as that. We've got to go back home and do our job. They did their job. We've got to do our job."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTS5ybKLJQ4

The Bucks trailed by 11 at halftime Thursday night after being outscored 30-16 in the second quarter. They made a couple of mini-runs in the second half, getting Phoenix's lead down to five with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, but could never sustain the comeback bid.

Devin Booker paced the Suns offense with 31 points, while Antetokounmpo was terrific in defeat with 42 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Milwaukee also dropped the first two games of its Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Brooklyn Nets on the road before winning four of the next five games, including all three on its home floor.

A similar comeback will be necessary if the Bucks are going to capture their second championship in franchise history and the first since 1971.

If Milwaukee is going to storm back, it's going to need more production from players not named Giannis Antetokounmpo. The rest of the team combined to shoot just 38 percent from the field (27 of 71) in Game 2.

"But at the end of the day, it's not about me. It's not about [Jrue Holiday]. It's not about Khris [Middleton]. It's not about Coach. It's about all of us," Giannis said. "... If there's a game that you're 3-for-12 or whatever the case might be and you can rebound the ball or get a steal or do something else to help the team win, that's what it's all about right now."

Game 3 is a virtual must-win for the Bucks. In the 143 prior NBA playoff series where one team took a 3-0 lead, they went on to win every single time, per Land of Basketball.

It sets the stage for a massively important battle when the series resumes Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

After their 118-108 Game 2 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Phoenix Suns are halfway to the first championship in franchise history.

And on Thursday, they had to overcome an historic performance from two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Playing on a left knee that is clearly still bothering him (he left the game during a stretch of the fourth quarter for treatment after a blocked shot), Giannis racked up an absurd 42 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal. He was plus-three in a game the Bucks lost by 10.

It was just the sixth time in NBA Finals history that a player went for at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. The other five came courtesy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal (who did it three times, all in the 2000 Finals). And prior to Thursday, nobody had lost a 40-10-3 game.

When you look at the rest of Milwaukee's box score, it's not hard to see why Giannis is now the only member of that club.

Bucks not named Antetokounmpo went 27-of-71 (38.0 percent) from the field. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday combined to go 12-of-37 (32.4 percent).

With the possible exception of Pat Connaughton (who had 14 points and four threes), Giannis' supporting cast was, in a word, a disaster.

The Suns—who have decent length and toughness among their wings and forwards, a heady point-of-attack defender in Chris Paul and a budding rim protector in Deandre Ayton—deserve some credit, but the less celebrated Bucks have to shoot better.

This roster was smartly assembled with Giannis' limitations in mind. He wasn't likely to develop into a top-tier shooter himself, so the priority was being able to deploy floor spacers around him. Even the Bucks' center, Brook Lopez, has been empowered to put up 5.1 three-point attempts per game since he joined the team.

For the most part, the theory has worked. Giannis' drives drag multiple defenders inside, which creates precious extra fractions of a second for the shooters on kickouts. Those shooters, in turn, make defenders think about staying home on the perimeter, which opens up the paint a bit for Antetokounmpo.

The symbiosis has given Milwaukee the best winning percentage in the league (.714) over the past three seasons (by a lot). But in all three postseasons, opponents have attempted to wall off the paint by throwing bodies at Giannis, and the shooters haven't made them pay.

In the series they lost in 2019 and 2020, the Bucks shot 31.7 percent from three. This postseason, following an uninspiring 9-of-31 in Game 2 of the Finals, they're at...31.7 percent.

It has yet to doom Milwaukee, which cruised past the Miami Heat in the first round, knocked off a hobbled Brooklyn Nets squad in the second round and finished off the Atlanta Hawks without Giannis in the Eastern Conference Finals. This series against Phoenix isn't over, but it feels different than those previous three.

Just over a week ago, in Game 4 against Atlanta, Antetokounmpo suffered what appeared to be a brutal knee injury. The hyperextension that happened when he landed on Clint Capela's foot made his leg bow backward in a terribly unnatural way. That he's playing at all right now is remarkable.

"Twenty-four hours a day," Giannis said of the amount of time he spent rehabbing the injury leading up to the Finals. "...I haven't watched the clip, but when the play happened, I thought I'm going to be out for a year. ... So, I'm just happy that, two games later, I'm back."

There have been moments in both Finals games when he didn't quite look like himself. Every fall seems to induce a bit of breath-holding for observers. There is some wincing here and there. But even that suggests Wolverine-like healing ability. For him to be anywhere near his 100-percent self doesn't seem possible when you watch video of the injury.

Suns defenders can likely attest to a slowed Giannis still being a nightmare to deal with. On Thursday, he was 14-of-17 on two-point shots. He got to the line for 18 free-throw attempts. His willingness to draw fouls is, in itself, admirable. Plenty of NBA players might shy away from the contact after some airballs and the aggressive counting he's heard from fans in all four series. Not Giannis. He just keeps attacking, bum knee, obnoxious crowds and all.

In totality, it really has been a heroic return for Milwaukee's best player. He's doing more than most could've possibly expected. Now, he needs his teammates rise to the occasion.

A few, including Holiday and Middleton, have had their moments this postseason. But those two are a combined 42.2 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from three in the playoffs. They simply have to be better to make this series competitive.

As the Phoenix crowd raucously chanted "Suns in four!" with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, it was hard to disagree with them. This might just be a season of destiny for the legendary CP3. It's a leveling-up for Devin Booker, who appears to be going from star to superstar. And it's a full-fledged breakout for Ayton.

Even if Giannis' supporting cast plays a bit better at home, there's no guarantee they can overcome the depth and tenacity of the Suns. If he doesn't get a little more from Holiday, Middleton and company, though, "Suns in four" could be the calling card of the 2021 postseason.

The Phoenix Suns made 25 of 26 free throws en route to defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 118-105 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday.

Milwaukee did not have as much success from the line, going 9-of-16. Suns shooting guard Devin Booker notably made one more free throw than the entire Bucks team. In addition, all Bucks not named Giannis Antetokounmpo went just 2-of-4 from the line.

On Wednesday, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer was asked about the free-throw attempt difference, and he provided this response, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

"You trying to bait me?" Budenholzer said as he smiled.

No, I mean, it's a huge part of the game. They had 25 points from the free throw line. We're a team that prides ourselves in defending and being able to be good defensively without fouling.

I can't remember the last time a team got 25 free throws in a game against the Bucks. And then conversely, the way Giannis [Antetokounmpo] attacks, the way Khris [Middleton] attacks, as many opportunities as Khris has with the ball...it's frustrating, but it's part of the sport. It's part of the game.

We've got to be better defensively. We've got to keep them off the free throw line and we got to be more aggressive attacking and getting to the free throw line and getting to good offense.

Referees called four more personal fouls on the Bucks (18-14).

As Bontemps noted, the Bucks have allowed their opponent to shoot 26 or more free throws in the playoffs just twice this year. The other time was when the Miami Heat hit 24 of 35 shots in Game 2 of the Bucks' first-round series sweep.

The Suns' free-throw trip number was an anomaly. Phoenix finished with the second-fewest free-throw attempts in the NBA this year with just 18.7 shots per game, per Basketball Reference. Only the Chicago Bulls took fewer shots from the line.

Milwaukee took 21.4 attempts per game, the 15th-most in the league.

The free-throw disparity certainly didn't help the Bucks, but Suns point guard Chris Paul (32 points, nine assists), Booker (27 points) and Deandre Ayton (22 points, 19 rebounds) were all tremendous. The Bucks had a tough time slowing them down, and that ultimately led to the Suns' win.

Milwaukee will look to rebound on Thursday in Phoenix for Game 2, which starts at 9 p.m. ET.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo said he isn't bothered by fans counting loudly during his free-throw routine.

When asked about the sensation that has followed him throughout the playoffs, Giannis put a positive spin on it, per Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today:

"Of course, 20,000 people yelling, 'One, two, three, four,' you notice that. I think it's something that's going to follow me for the rest of my career. So, I've just got to embrace it and have fun with it. But at the end of the day I'm just focusing on my routine, my technique, my body, and as I said, it's not going to stop, so I just have to learn to live with it."

The act of fans counting during Giannis' free-throw routine began during the first round of the playoffs when the Bucks swept the Miami Heat.

Players are allowed 10 seconds to take their free throws or they can be called for a violation. With officials rarely calling Giannis for a violation despite his lengthy setup, Heat fans decided to lend the referees a hand.

The counting was a hit and continued during a second-round series against the Brooklyn Nets and the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks.

Antetokounmpo heard it during Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night as well:

Here’s the second FT pic.twitter.com/s67bnvpbyv

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) July 7, 2021

Giannis unexpectedly played Tuesday after missing the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals with a left knee injury.

It was unclear how much Giannis would be able to give the Bucks, but he played well in the 118-105 loss, contributing 20 points, 17 rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes.

Antetokounmpo did struggle at the free-throw line, though, making just seven of his 12 attempts.

Free-throw shooting has never been a strong point of Giannis' game, but he did shoot 72.0 percent or better from the line in five straight seasons from 2014-15 to 2018-19.

His mark dipped to 63.3 percent last season and settled at 68.5 percent this season. He has been especially poor from the charity stripe in this year's playoffs, shooting just 54.1 percent.

Given that Giannis hasn't shot well from the line since the counting started, it stands to reason that it won't go away any time soon.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said his hyper-extended left knee felt great and he didn't experience any pain during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday. 

The Phoenix Suns took the series opener, 118-105, but the health of the Greek Freak feels like a small victory itself for Antetokounmpo, who hadn't played since suffering the injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks. 

On Tuesday, Giannis was suddenly upgraded to a game-time decision, then played 35 minutes with 20 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a massive block.

BLOCKED BY GIANNIS 🤯🤯🤯

(via @bucks)pic.twitter.com/I8meJHaHhe

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 7, 2021

On any given night that would be a spectacular play. On Tuesday, Antetokounmpo revealed he made it only days after he thought his season was over. Antetokounmpo told reporters he still hasn't watched video of his injury in Game 4 of the ECF, but he was certain it meant the end of his playoff run. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he hasn’t watched the replay of his injury.

“But when the play happened, I thought I would be out for a year. So, I’m just happy two games later I’m back.”

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) July 7, 2021

“When the play happened I thought, ‘I’m going to be out for a year.’ I’m just happy that two games later I’m back.”

Giannis discusses making his return from injury #NBAFinals https://t.co/eKGf64Q8uS

— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 7, 2021

Thankfully for the Bucks—and basketball fans—Antetokounmpo was able to make it back to the floor for one of the most important games of his career. And he did it in style.

GIANNIS. BULLY.

(via @NBATV)https://t.co/4DwCDaEtWE

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 7, 2021

Milwaukee is likely to monitor Antetokounmpo's knee closely over the next few days as the team looks to keep its two-time MVP healthy. Game 2 is slated for Thursday, July 8 at 9 p.m. ET. 

If Antetokounmpo can provide another outing like he did in Game 1, the Bucks have significantly better chances of evening the series before Games 3 and 4 shift to Milwaukee. 

Chris Paul scored 16 of his 32 points in the third quarter to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 118-105 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday.

Paul's effort propelled Phoenix to a 35-point third quarter that enabled the Suns to take a 92-76 lead into the fourth. The Bucks cut the deficit to as few as seven points, but that's as close as Milwaukee would get before Phoenix wrapped up its win.

Devin Booker pitched in 27 points for the Suns, and Deandre Ayton added a 22-point, 19-rebound double-double.

Two-time NBA MVP and Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the lineup after suffering a hyperextension of his left knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals last Tuesday, which forced him to miss Games 5 and 6 of that matchup. He posted 20 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes. 

Khris Middleton led all Bucks scorers with 29 points on 12-of-26 shooting.

   

Notable Performances

Suns PG Chris Paul: 32 points, 9 assists

Suns SG Devin Booker: 27 points, 6 assists, 3 steals

Suns C Deandre Ayton: 22 points, 19 rebounds

Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo: 20 points, 17 rebounds

Bucks F Khris Middleton: 29 points, 7 rebounds

Bucks G Jrue Holiday: 10 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds

    

Chris Paul Continues Torrid Postseason Pace

    

What's Next?

Phoenix will host Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will play against the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.

The two-time MVP hasn't played since landing awkwardly in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm-wv57e4UY

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe reported Antetokounmpo didn't suffer any structural damage to his left knee, which was subsequently described as hyperextended. While that seemingly left the door open for the 26-year-old to get back at some point in the NBA playoffs, his status turned into an almost daily source of intrigue and updates.

Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said Monday that Antetokounmpo was "making good progress," but he was originally listed as doubtful for Tuesday. He was upgraded to questionable and worked out on the court prior to Game 1.

Giannis warms up ahead of #NBAFinals Game 1. pic.twitter.com/aUZ21XKBeJ

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 7, 2021

The importance of the 6'11" forward largely goes without saying. He averaged 28.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 steals during the regular season. 

The Bucks closed out the conference finals without him, but the Hawks were dealing with injury problems of their own to Trae Young. The Suns are bound to pose a more difficult test to Milwaukee, so Antetokounmpo's availability is critical to the East champion.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is still hoping to be cleared in time for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews of ESPN.

The two-time MVP has received "around-the-clock treatment on his left knee" and is expected to be a game-time decision.

Antetokounmpo suffered a knee injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, missing the next two games as the Bucks clinched the series.

Jared Greenberg of NBA TV reported Monday the forward has made "significant progress" since the June 29 injury:

Giannis is working out at a private gym to determine his status for Game 1 of the Finals, per @JaredSGreenberg

He has made “significant progress” with his hyperextended knee

(via @NBATV)https://t.co/SGLS5BSgap

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 5, 2021

Milwaukee has enough depth to compete without Giannis if needed, with Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday having played especially well in the Eastern Conference Finals. The backcourt duo combined for 51 points in Game 5 and 59 in Game 6.

Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis also play increased roles when the team isn't at full strength.

After winning both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019-20, Antetokounmpo continued his dominant play this season with 28.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks per game.

Even if he can't play Tuesday, the game-time decision could provide hope for a return in Game 2 on Thursday.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo's status for the NBA Finals is unclear as he recovers from a hyperextended left knee. He has been listed as doubtful for Tuesday's Game 1 vs. the Phoenix Suns.

The team hopes he'll play in the Finals at some point, though.

"I'm pretty sure he'll play in the series," Bucks co-governor Marc Lasry said on CNBC on Tuesday (h/t Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic). "The question is when."

Antetokounmpo, 26, missed Game 5 and Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Atlanta Hawks, both wins for Milwaukee. 

"We'll update it when appropriate," Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters regarding the Greek Freak's status for the NBA Finals. "The conversations between he and myself, it's kind of private and we'll see where he is each day."

Beating Chris Paul, Devin Booker and a dangerous Suns team without a two-time MVP like Antetokounmpo would be a tall task. Replacing his 28.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this postseason is virtually impossible for Milwaukee.

"I mean, Giannis is a one-of-a-kind guy," point guard Jrue Holiday told reporters. "We obviously all see his basketball talent, but as a human being, he's one of a kind. ... In my opinion, one of the biggest things we did the last two games was play for him, have his back and hold the fort while he was out with an injury."

The Suns have stayed mostly healthy through this year's postseason, although Paul missed two games after a positive COVID-19 test. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers (Anthony Davis), Denver Nuggets (Jamal Murray) and Los Angeles Clippers (Kawhi Leonard) missed crucial stars for parts or all of their matchups with Phoenix. 

The Suns may now face Milwaukee without Antetokounmpo, at least for part of the series. 

If that's the case, Bobby Portis will remain in the starting lineup. He was excellent in relief duty the past two games, averaging 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals in the two Bucks wins.

But he's no Antetokounmpo.