Odds Released for Bucks, Suns to Win 2021 NBA Title; Giannis to Win Finals MVP Award
Jul 18, 2021
PHOENIX, AZ - July 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks embrace after Game Five of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 17, 2021 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
After losing the first two games of the 2021 NBA Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks were +350 underdogs to win the title.
Winners of three straight, the Bucks are now massive -390 favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The Suns, needing victories in both Games 6 and 7 to win their first championship, are +330.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose status for these Finals was in question heading into Game 1, is a heavy -430 favorite for Finals MVP. Chris Paul (+650) and Devin Booker (+700) are the only other players with better than 20-1 odds.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.2 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists through the first five games of the series. He's on pace to become the first player in Finals history with a 30-10-5 stat line on over 60 percent shooting and has overwhelmingly been the best player in the series.
Not only has he been the most consistently great player of these Finals, but Giannis has also come up with iconic Finals moments in back-to-back games. His jaw-dropping block of a Deandre Ayton dunk attempt turned the tide in Game 4, and then Antetokounmpo threw down one of the most insane alley-oops in NBA playoff history on a risky pass from Jrue Holiday late in Game 5.
"Giannis took off and he was calling for the ball," Holiday told reporters. "So at that point, I just threw it as high as I could and only where Giannis could go get it. He went up there [and] got it. They don't call him the Freak for nothing. I threw it as high as I could."
If you're looking for long-shot bets for Finals MVP, Khris Middleton is +2400, Holiday is +8500 and Ayton is +19000.
Jrue Holiday on Alley-Oop to Giannis: 'They Don’t Call Him the Freak for Nothing'
Jul 18, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, top, celebrates with guard Jrue Holiday (21) after the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals, Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Jrue Holiday's jaw-dropping alley-oop to Giannis Antetokounmpo late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Game 5 123-119 win over the Phoenix Suns was one of the gutsiest plays in NBA Finals history.
When asked if he was nervous about throwing such a risky pass with the game on the line, Holiday said he trusted the Greek Freak could get the ball anywhere he threw it.
"Giannis took off and he was calling for the ball," Holiday told reporters. "So at that point, I just threw it as high as I could and only where Giannis could go get it. He went up there [and] got it. They don't call him the Freak for nothing. I threw it as high as I could."
The thunderous oop sealed the Bucks' victory, giving them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and putting them on the precipice of the franchise's first title since 1971.
"The pass was all about trust," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "Obviously, he could have pulled the ball out, let the clock run and get a good shot. But he trusted me, threw the ball out there, and we were able to get a bucket."
Holiday, maligned at times during this playoff run for disappointing shooting performances, was a two-way force Saturday. He had 27 points, 13 assists and three steals, with his final swipe coming on a Devin Booker drive to help set up the oop to Antetokounmpo.
The iconic two-way play was quintessential Holiday, showing in one five-second span why the Bucks sent a massive draft pick haul to New Orleans for him in the offseason. While some questioned the move at the time, the Bucks are one victory away from quieting the doubters once and for all.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Treated for 'Intense Cramping' After Bucks' Game 5 Win vs. Suns
Jul 18, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne, left, and Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals, Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was treated for "intense cramping" following Saturday's 123-119 win over the Phoenix Suns.
Malika Andrews of ESPN reported Antetokounmpo left his postgame press conference before later returning because of the cramping.
While it's not a surprise for Antetokounmpo to suffer some level of cramping after he played 41 high-intensity NBA Finals minutes, the entire league is on heightened alert after his brother, Thanasis, was placed into health and safety protocols. All testing on Giannis has presumably come back negative for him to be eligible to play in Game 5.
"It was extremely difficult for him not to be here to cheer for the team," Giannis told reporters of his brother. "He gives the team a lot of energy, and the team feels it. As much as it hurts, we still got to do our job, and I FaceTimed him after the game."
Giannis put up 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the Bucks' come-from-behind victory, his third game in the series over the 30-point mark. He's one win away from his first NBA championship and presumably the Finals MVP, with averages of 32.2 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the series.
The Bucks have reeled off three straight victories after going down 0-2, and it's fair to say the team's collective breath will be held over the next 48 hours. The team already lost assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer from the bench to contact tracing, and Milwaukee can ill-afford any additional issues with COVID as it looks to close out its first title since 1971.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks Take Series Lead with Game 5 Win vs. Chris Paul, Suns
Jul 18, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals, Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Milwaukee Bucks are one win away from their first NBA championship in 50 years after beating the host Phoenix Suns 123-119 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night.
Bucks guard Jrue Holiday's 27 points, 13 assists and three steals helped Milwaukee overcome a 37-21 first-quarter deficit. Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's 32 points led the team.
The Bucks caught fire offensively and later took a 14-point lead, but Phoenix slashed that edge down to one after Suns point guard Chris Paul's layup with 56.6 seconds left.
Holiday missed a floater on the other end, but he soon authored the play of the game after stealing the ball from Suns guard Devin Booker and finding a streaking Antetokounmpo for an alley-oop and a 122-119 lead.
Antetokounmpo was fouled on the play but missed the free throw. However, a loose ball on the rebound attempt found its way back to Antetokounmpo, who tapped it back to Khris Middleton.
The Bucks wing was fouled and hit 1-of-2 free throws for a four-point edge. The Suns came up empty on their next possession, effectively ending the game.
Booker led all scorers with 40 points.
Milwaukee, which took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, swept the Baltimore Bullets in the 1971 Finals for its only championship.
Notable Performances
Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo: 32 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
Bucks F Khris Middleton: 29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
Bucks G Jrue Holiday: 27 points, 13 assists, 3 steals
Suns SG Devin Booker: 40 points
Suns PG Chris Paul: 21 points, 11 assists
Suns C Deandre Ayton: 20 points, 10 rebounds
Holiday's 2nd-Quarter Performance Flips the Script
The lasting memory of this game will always be Holiday's steal and Antetokounmpo's dunk, which will be etched in NBA lore forever if the Bucks end up winning this series.
But the turning point of this game happened in the second quarter, a period that started with after the Bucks took a massive uppercut following 12 minutes of play.
The Suns seemingly couldn't miss, routinely nailing shots and firing up a hot home crowd. Phoenix was in position to make the game's result a formality by halftime.
Holiday had other ideas.
Milwaukee scored 43 second-quarter points. Holiday was responsible for 14 of them in addition to five assists.
To their credit, the Bucks came out aggressive, with Holiday leading the charge. He stormed the paint for this early second-quarter layup:
The Bucks ultimately outscored the Suns by 19 in the second quarter to take a three-point halftime lead. They poured it on in the second half before the Suns clawed their way back in the game late. Holiday had other plans, though, and changed this series on a dime with his steal and assist.
Holiday entered Game 5 shooting just 33 percent from the field (23-of-69 shooting). It has not been a great offensive series for him, although his defense on Paul in Games 3 and 4 certainly helped Milwaukee tie the matchup up after falling behind two games to none.
But Holiday's emergence has changed this series' narrative. Now Milwaukee heads home in search of its first championship in five decades, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was dominating the NBA for the Bucks.
Suns Fight Hard But Can't Keep Pace With Bucks Sans Booker
The Suns outscored the Bucks by 12 points when Devin Booker was on the floor. They were outscored by 16 points with him on the bench.
From Phoenix's end, the storyline is fairly simple: The team couldn't muster enough offense outside Booker to keep pace with the suddenly scorching-hot Bucks for most of the final 36 minutes.
It's not that the rest of Booker's supporting cast was bad by any means. Phoenix shot 55.2 percent from the field and nailed 13-of-19 three-pointers. The Suns also committed just eight turnovers and hit 10-of-11 free throws.
The problem was that Phoenix's margin for error was fairly small in the face of the Bucks' torrid pace, specifically in the second quarter, when Booker sat for 5:46 to start the frame. By the time he got back in the ballgame, the Bucks had trimmed a 37-21 deficit to 49-47.
Booker did all he could Saturday, scoring his 40 points on 17-of-33 shooting. He put on a mid-range clinic against Milwaukee, routinely nailing shots and going blow for blow with the Bucks in the third quarter.
Over a series of six third-quarter possessions, Booker either ended the Suns' trip down the court with points or an assist. He finished that 2:56 stretch with 10 points and one dime.
This pull-up jumper dropped the Milwaukee lead to 72-69:
Unfortunately, the relentless Bucks kept up the pressure and scored in response to Booker's efforts all six times.
Booker was able to keep Phoenix in this game, though, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter capped by this three-pointer to pull the Suns within 120-117:
However, the Suns fell just short in an instant classic where both teams played excellent offensive basketball.
Phoenix may be going to Milwaukee needing a win to keep its season alive, but it can take solace in the fact that Booker is cooking right now after dropping 42 points in Game 4 and 40 more on Saturday. He very well could Phoenix on his back and bring this series home.
What's Next?
Milwaukee will host Game 6 at Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday. The Bucks can clinch the title with a victory, while a Suns win will push the series back to Phoenix for a championship-deciding Game 7 at 9 p.m. Thursday.
NBA Finals 2021: Bucks vs. Suns Game 5 Odds, Props and Predictions
Jul 17, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates in front of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) at the end of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
The 2-0 lead for the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals evaporated during a brief road trip to Milwaukee, where the Bucks evened the series at 2-2 heading into Saturday's critical Game 5.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's superhuman efforts finally received some help from his supporting cast during the two-game streak. In almost a cliche manner, Phoenix made some uncharacteristic mistakes in a hostile environment.
Now, a critical Game 5 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, one that could create irreversible momentum for the winner before things shift back to Milwaukee on Tuesday for Game 6.
And for would-be bettors, things are more difficult to figure out now that the Bucks have come alive, which explains the close spread and conservative total props.
NBA Finals Game 5 Odds
Spread:Phoenix (-4)
Over/Under: 218.5
Moneyline: Phoenix -172 (bet $172 to win $100); Milwaukee +144 (bet $100 to win $144)
It would be easy for a would-be bettor to look at everything surrounding this series, see that the Suns are 27-9 at home—including big wins in the first two games of this series—and chalk this up as an easy decision.
If only.
Those numbers are nice, but some uncharacteristic problems popped up for Phoenix over the past two games. The big one was savvy veteran Chris Paul suddenly struggling with turnovers. In Game 4, a 109-103 loss, he led the team with five, including two in the final five minutes with the game within five points.
While Paul fell into a slump, Khris Middleton finally awoke from a slumber for the Bucks, shooting 15-of-33 from the floor with 40 points, single-handedly counteracting a 42-point effort from Phoenix's Devin Booker. Add in Antetokounmpo's 26 for the big difference.
Point being, the cascading effect is real. The Bucks are a lethal team on the fast break, and if a player as reliable as Paul is turning over the ball, the Suns are only going to make things harder on themselves.
"They got a significant amount more shots than us, so for me I got to take care of the ball," Paul said after Game 4, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "We got 17 turnovers, we shoot the ball too well not to have those opportunities to score."
It's not just Paul—it's also Milwaukee's Jrue Holiday. While Holiday has been the subject of criticism for struggling offensively (he's averaging 15.3 points on 34.8 percent shooting after hitting 50.3 percent during the regular season), his defensive efforts can't go overlooked. According to NBA Stats, he's guarded Paul on 78 possessions and forced seven turnovers.
In short, any amount of amazing scoring from Booker could be rendered moot in a hurry:
Suns: 51.3 FG% Bucks: 40.2 FG%
The Suns are the first team in NBA history to lose a Finals game despite shooting better than 50% and holding their opponents below 42%. pic.twitter.com/T6hdinNCGc
On the flip side, Milwaukee didn't need to shoot lights out while committing 12 fewer turnovers and dominating the glass.
With Middleton finally surging and the storyline about Antetokounmpo's injured knee an afterthought, it's hard to imagine the Bucks don't capitalize on the momentum acquired over the past two games. That would mean stealing the first road win of the series and going home with a chance to finish it all as champs.
Keep in mind that Phoenix's gaudy wins at home in the first two games of the series occurred largely because Antetokounmpo's supporting cast face-planted. With at least Middleton shaking it off, if the Suns keep assisting by fumbling into the Bucks' strengths, an upset might be in order.
Meaning, would-be bettors can't be blamed for expressing confidence in the Bucks on the spread. Ditto for the over given the likely major offensive outputs about to unfold from two of the game's biggest stars.
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Giannis on Epic Game 4 NBA Finals Block: 'Incredible What Your Body Is Able to Do'
Jul 17, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 14: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks blocks the shot of Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns during Game Four of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 14, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images).
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn't quite find the words to describe his game-saving block at the end of his team's Game 4 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Nearly 48 hours after he back-pedaled his way to breaking up an alley-oop from Devin Booker to Deandre Ayton, Antetokounmpo was still trying to make sense of how he pulled off one of the most epic blocks in NBA Finals history.
"It's incredible what your body is [able] to do," Antetokounmpo told reporters Friday. "When you think about winning, you go to the extreme."
That extreme was absolutely necessary. Already facing a 2-1 series deficit, the Bucks needed to escape with a victory in Game 4 to avoid heading back to Phoenix down 3-1 on the brink of elimination. Milwaukee led 101-99 with 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter when Ayton caught a lob from Booker.
By all appearances, it should've tied the game. Then, the Greek Freak got in the way.
The Bucks went on to win 109-103.
"I cannot explain the play," Antetokounmpo said. "But, at the end of the day, that's in the past. When you talk about the past, that's your ego talking. It's in the past. It's over with. I got to move on. I got to keep making winning plays. I got to keep competing. I got to keep finding ways to help my team be great. Great moment. I appreciate the moment. Great moment. [But] we got to move on."
NBA Finals 2021: Bucks vs. Suns Game 5 Vegas Odds, Prop Bets and Predictions
Jul 16, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket between Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, left, and forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the second half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
The 2021 NBA Finals have been a showcase of the top individual talents on the rosters of the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had back-to-back 40-point performances in Games 2 and 3, while Devin Booker eclipsed that threshold in Game 4.
The high output from the marquee players has narrowed down the player prop betting scope to three stars on each side.
However, there is one role player who has consistently outperformed his player points prop and is worth a look alongside the stars for Game 5.
Phoenix's Cameron Johnson is averaging 10.5 points per game in the series. He is in a good position to hit his over again with another single-digit point prop.
NBA Finals Game 5 Odds
Spread: Phoenix -4
Over/Under: 218.5
Money Line: Phoenix -172 (bet $172 to win $100); Milwaukee +144 (bet $100 to win $144)
One thing you do not have to worry about with the Bucks stars is their shot output.
Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday accounted for 233 of the Bucks' 368 field-goal attempts through four games.
Antetokounmpo is second on the roster to Middleton in individual field-goal attempts with 75. He leads Milwaukee with 32.3 points per game in the series thanks to his consecutive 40-point games.
The key for Antetokounmpo's points over hitting is his time spent at the free-throw line. In Games 2 and 3, he went 24-for-35 from the charity stripe.
If he can attack the rim and get some of Phoenix's players in foul trouble, like Booker was in Game 4, he can bolster his point total by five to 10 points.
On Wednesday, Antetokounmpo only attempted eight free throws on his way to scoring 26 points.
As long as he attempts a double-digit number of free throws and continues to shoot at a high volume, Antetokounmpo should have no problem producing at least 34 points and hitting his over.
Cameron Johnson Over 9.5 (+104)
Cameron Johnson has been the most effective bench player in the series.
The Phoenix forward found his way into double figures in three of the four NBA Finals games, and he should have no problem reaching that total again Saturday.
Johnson played over 30 minutes in Game 3 and was on the floor for 28 minutes in Game 4. The injuries suffered by Dario Saric and Torrey Craig allowed Johnson to play a larger role in a tighter rotation.
Johnson's point prop moved up to 9.5 for Game 5 from the lower totals it sat at earlier in the series, but it is still attainable because of his usage rates.
He is the most trustworthy Suns player outside of the starting five, and he can be more effective than Jae Crowder or Mikal Bridges on the offensive end at times. Johnson is averaging more assists and shooting better than both starters in the series.
If you are on Johnson's point prop, it is worth looking into his three-point prop as well, which should close at over/under 1.5. He hit multiple three-pointers in three of the four NBA Finals games.
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NBA Finals 2021: Bucks vs. Suns Game 5 Vegas Odds, Prop Bets and Predictions
Jul 15, 2021
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, right, is defended by Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday during the second half of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals, Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
The Phoenix Suns are tasked with holding serve in Saturday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
The Milwaukee Bucks picked up two wins on their hardwood to level the series and make it a best-of-three for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
By now, the trends of the series have been defined, with only a few players taking on consistent starring roles with high numbers in the points column.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton carried the Bucks in Games 3 and 4, while Devin Booker featured in a standout role in Game 4 with a 42-point output.
Phoenix needs a bit more out of Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton to bounce back from the two road defeats. That will require some adjustments from Monty Williams and his coaching staff, but they have two off days to implement those.
NBA Finals Game 5 Odds
Spread: Phoenix -4.5
Over/Under: 218.5
Money Line: Phoenix -184 (bet $184 to win $100); Milwaukee +154 (bet $100 to win $154)
Paul was a lethal scorer at the back end of Phoenix's previous two playoff series.
In Games 3 and 4 versus the Denver Nuggets, Paul totaled 64 points and he shot 73.7 percent from the field in the series finale. He also produced 41 points in the series-clinching Game 6 win over the Los Angeles Clippers and had 22 points and eight assists in Game 5.
The point guard started out the NBA Finals on a high note with 55 points in his home arena. The Suns need another 20-point performance out of Paul to match the production of Milwaukee's top players.
Even though he failed to reach the 20-point threshold in Games 3 and 4, Paul was still shooting at a high volume. Paul attempted 27 field goals in Milwaukee. He attempted even more shots in Games 1 and 2 by going 22-of-39.
If Paul is able to cut through the Milwaukee defense and attempt a handful of mid-range jumpers or floaters, he should provide the necessary support to Booker to get past Milwaukee.
You should also keep an eye on Paul's assist prop, which sits at 8.5 as of 10 a.m. ET on Thursday. Paul has at least seven assists in each NBA Finals game, and his passing ability may be utilized to break the deadlock the Milwaukee defense has on Ayton around the rim.
Khris Middleton Over 2.5 Threes
Middleton's point total has fluctuated throughout the series, but the one mainstay on his stat line has been his three-point production.
The small forward hit five three-pointers in Game 1 and then he made three each in Games 3 and 4.
Middleton has shot at a high volume throughout the postseason, but his point totals have not always matched that output. In the past two series, the 29-year-old has had under 25 points in half of the 10 games, so betting the over on his points prop at 25.5 might be deemed as too risky.
In that same span, Middleton knocked down multiple three-point shots in seven games, which suggests you will come closer to him hitting his over on makes from downtown.
Since Jrue Holiday is 6-of-22 from three-point range in the series, look for Middleton to add more production from downtown to compensate for that bad form and to keep the Bucks in Game 5.
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Bucks' Giannis on Block of Deandre Ayton: 'I Thought I Was Going to Get Dunked on'
Jul 15, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) blocks a shot by Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the second half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
While Khris Middleton did much of the heavy lifting on the offensive side during the Milwaukee Bucks' 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Wednesday's Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo's block of a Deandre Ayton alley-oop attempt in the final minutes helped swing the game.
"Just a hustle play," he told reporters. "I thought I'm going to get dunked on, to be honest with you."
“I thought I was going to get dunked on, to be honest with you.”
The block came with Milwaukee nursing a two-point lead in the final two minutes, and rather than giving up a dunk and the lead, the home team grabbed possession and maintained the momentum in front of a raucous crowd.
It was one of multiple key defensive plays Antetokounmpo made down the stretch, as he also blocked a Chris Paul shot while trailing by one, which led to a go-ahead three-pointer from Pat Connaughton on the other end.
Giannis finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocks in an impressive all-around performance, but it was Middleton who carried the Bucks for much of the game.
He countered Devin Booker's 42 points with a 40-point performance of his own, including 10 straight points for the victors in the final three minutes as they seized control of the game.
It was an all-time performance on a massive stage for someone who is typically the No. 2 option and helped the Bucks create a situation where the series is now a best-of-three battle even though they lost the first two games.
If Middleton continues to be a force and Antetokounmpo plays defense like he did down the stretch of Wednesday's win, it will be difficult for the Suns to wrestle momentum back after two successive losses.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks Beat Devin Booker, Suns to Even 2021 NBA Finals at 2-2
Jul 15, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket between Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, left, and forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the second half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
It's a brand new series.
The Milwaukee Bucks tied the 2021 NBA Finals at two games apiece with a dramatic 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Wednesday's Game 4 at Fiserv Forum. Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks, who continued the pattern of the home team taking every contest of this series with their second successive win.
Middleton, Incredible 4th Quarter Propel Bucks to Win
Everything begins and ends with Antetokounmpo for the Bucks, and Wednesday was the opportunity to continue what was shaping up to be a legendary NBA Finals performance.
In fact, his back-to-back showings of more than 40 points in Games 2 and 3 had people talking about Michael Jordan's historic 1993 Finals showing against the Suns. Yet, the biggest difference from the Game 3 win and initial losses was the supporting cast's ability to take advantage of all the defensive attention he draws.
Middleton clearly noticed.
Khris Middleton came up big in the final minutes of Game 4 🔥
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are the 3rd pair of teammates (4th instance) over the last 50 years to each have a 40-point game in a single NBA Finals.
The others are LeBron James/Kyrie Irving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Magic Johnson. pic.twitter.com/SJJZkV6WCj
While Jrue Holiday was brutal from the field (4-of-20), Middleton more than picked up the slack as the only Bucks starter to make a three-pointer. It was because of his individual efforts that the home team remained even within striking distance as Booker dominated on the offensive end and Antetokounmpo was missing some of the aggressiveness that defined the early portion of this series.
What's more, Middleton saved his best for last.
He scored 10 straight points for the Bucks in the final three minutes, which helped turn a tie game into a momentum-swinging victory. Pat Connaughton also hit a clutch three before Middleton's stretch, and Antetokounmpo turned heads with a memorable block on a Deandre Ayton dunk attempt, but it was the Middleton show when the game was on the line for Milwaukee.
If his team goes on to win the championship, his showing will go down in NBA history.
Suns Waste Booker's Performance
Coming into Wednesday's contest, the biggest storyline from Phoenix's perspective was how Booker would bounce back after playing just 29 minutes and scoring 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting during the Game 3 loss.
The visitors couldn't have scripted a better start for Booker on Wednesday.
Booker sliced his way through Milwaukee's defense and unleashed a number of midrange shots on his way to 20 first-half points to anchor his team's attack. However, the game was still tied at intermission despite his dominance because nobody else on the Suns had more than seven points, including Chris Paul and Ayton.
Holiday deserved much of the credit for keeping Paul in relative check with his hounding defense, but the biggest concern for Phoenix came midway through the third quarter when Booker went to the bench with four fouls after essentially being the team's only source of offense for extended stretches.
Rather than remain on the bench for long, Booker returned even with the foul trouble and torched the Bucks for a stunning 18 points in the third quarter alone. He was so brilliant that the Suns had a six-point lead heading to the fourth without a single other player in double figures.
However, he once again returned to the bench in the fourth quarter with his fifth foul and somehow managed to escape fouling out despite an obvious no-call on what should have been his sixth.
The offense lost some of its rhythm when he was sidelined and never found it even after he returned. Ayton was impressive on the boards but had just six points, while Paul turned it over five times and looked like anything but the future Hall of Famer who has played so well throughout the playoffs.
The result was a wasted opportunity for the Suns.
What's Next?
The series returns to Phoenix for Saturday's Game 5.
