Giannis Antetokounmpo

Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals produced some vital information that can be used for betting the rest of the series. 

Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton once again featured in starring roles for the Phoenix Suns, so it is hard to bet any props outside of those three players. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo's knee looked fine in the 35 minutes he was on the court, and he was part of an interesting lineup decision made by Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer in the second half. 

Budenholzer opted for a smaller lineup with Antetokounmpo at center. That led to the Bucks star defending Ayton and some bench guards having the chance to contribute in larger roles. 

If the trends we saw in Game 1 pop up in Game 2, the Bucks might be more competitive with the Suns. Even if they do not level the series, they could create some momentum going into Game 3. 

           

NBA Finals Game 2 Odds

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Spread: Phoenix (-5.5)

Over/Under: 220

Money Line: Phoenix (-225; bet $225 to win $100); Milwaukee (+188; bet $100 to win $188)

         

Predictions

Milwaukee 1st Half Money Line

In the fourth quarter of Game 1, Budenholzer called on Bryn Forbes and Pat Connaughton to play alongside Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. 

The small lineup with Antetokounmpo at the five produced a three-point quarter margin in favor of the Bucks.

That was not enough to complete a comeback, but it gave us a look into how the Bucks may alter their rotations to start Game 2. 

Brook Lopez did not see the floor in the final stanza, and P.J. Tucker played fewer minutes than Forbes and Connaughton. 

Antetokounmpo's defensive presence on Ayton limited Phoenix's big man to two field-goal attempts in the final 12 minutes. He scored four of his 22 points in the fourth. 

If Budenholzer goes to the same alignment in the first half of Game 2, it could reap rewards for the Bucks. 

Forbes and Connaughton went a combined 4-for-7 from three-point range, and none of the Suns' starters had more than five points in that 12-minute stretch. 

If the Bucks use the same lineup and it can be effective on the defensive end, they may have an edge in the first half. 

Milwaukee went into halftime with an eight-point halftime deficit in Game 1 with Lopez, Tucker and Bobby Portis receiving decent playing time. 

If the Bucks' fourth-quarter look from Game 1 translates to Game 2, they could put a shock into the Suns and put themselves in a position to steal a victory in the second half. 

              

Over 220

Over bettors faced a sweat toward the end of Game 1, but they were eventually rewarded with a cash of the over of 219.5 points. 

The Game 2 total opened a half-point higher than the Game 1 close, and it could clear in an easier manner, especially if the Bucks go smaller. 

The three-guard lineup should lend itself to more three-point shots as the Bucks try to get more players involved around Antetokounmpo.

Even if the Bucks stick with their Game 1 approach in the first half, they should produce over 30 points in at least one quarter.

Milwaukee shot 16-for-36 from three-point range, and Holiday was limited to 10 points on a 4-for-14 shooting night. 

If Holiday alone improves, the Bucks could add five to 10 points to their team total. They finished with 105 points in Game 1. 

Phoenix also attempted a large number of three-point shots. The Suns went 11-for-34 from deep but still produced 118 points. That total was boosted by a 25-for-26 night at the free-throw line. 

If the Suns continue to be effective at the charity stripe and knock down a few more three-pointers, we could witness a few 30-point quarters and the over hitting before the final three or four minutes. 

            

Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference.

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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. 

The 2021 NBA Finals are set to get underway Tuesday, with the Phoenix Suns hosting the Milwaukee Bucks.

For Milwaukee, it's been a breakthrough postseason. After watching superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo win back-to-back MVP awards but failing to make the Finals, the Bucks finally have a spot in the championship series.

It's been a surprising season for the Suns, who hadn't previously made the playoffs since the 2009-10 campaign. It's also been a coming-out party for budding star Devin Booker and a bit of a storybook run for Chris Paul, who despite 11 All-Star appearances, is on the cusp of appearing in his first Finals series.

"It was a lot excitement, a lot of emotion for myself, coach and the team," Paul said of winning the Western Conference Finals, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. "Real-life stuff."

Getting to this point is huge, but the Bucks and Suns now have to refocus on winning what should be a hard-fought—and entertaining—series. There will be plenty of action on the court for bettors to take in as well.

Here, we'll dive into the latest odds and top prop bets for Game 1 from DraftKings Sportsbook.

      

2021 NBA Finals Game 1

When: Tuesday, July 6

Time: 9 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: ABC, ESPN App

Line: Phoenix -6

     

Heading into gameday, the Suns are six-point favorites, likely for a couple of reasons. Phoenix is playing host, which should give the Suns a slight advantage. The Bucks could also play without Antetokounmpo, which puts them at a major disadvantage.

While Milwaukee was able to outlast the Atlanta Hawks with Antetokounmpo sidelined by a knee injury, beating Booker, Paul, Deandre Ayton and Co. will be an entirely different challenge. Just look at how the Los Angeles Lakers floundered against Phoenix when Anthony Davis went down.

While Antetokounmpo hasn't officially been ruled out, he's listed as doubtful for Game 1.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday, according to the team's injury report.

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) July 6, 2021

The Bucks still have talented players like Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday, but without Antetokounmpo, a six-point line feels like a lot to overcome. Phoenix -6 feels like a fairly safe pick here—though it'll be important to follow the injury report up to game time.

      

Khris Middleton Over/Under 27.5 Points

If Antetokounmpo can't go, someone is going to have to step up for Milwaukee offensively. In the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, much of the responsibility fell on Middleton.

Middleton, a two-time All-Star, scored 26 and 32 points in Games 5 and 6, respectively.

DraftKings has the over/under for Middleton set at 27.5 points for Game 1. This is a fairly lofty line, but it's not unrealistic. Putting Middleton at the center of a team-ball approach arguably gives Milwaukee its best chance at pulling off the upset.

Expect Middleton to be the offensive centerpiece in Game 1 and to reach the 28-point mark in a losing effort.

      

Chris Paul Over/Under 9.5 Assists

Paul has been fantastic during the playoffs thus far, and he hasn't been particularly selfish with the ball. Over the last three games of the Western Conference Finals, he averaged 27 points and 7.5 assists.

Paul should again be a distributor in Game 1 of this series, but reaching 10 assists could prove difficult. The Bucks are a sound defensive team and will look to limit Phoenix's ball movement with Paul at the point.

While this will be easier in theory than in practice, it's worth noting that Paul has averaged less than nine assists throughout the postseason. He had only one double-digit assist game against the Los Angeles Clippers and only has four for the entire postseason.

Expect Paul to find a double-double or triple-double at some point in this series, but not in Game 1.

        

Other Prop Picks for Game 1

Brooks Lopez OVER 0.5 3-Pointers

Suns OVER 55.5 first-half points

Deandre Ayton UNDER 15.5 points

Cameron Johnson OVER 6.5 points

    

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful for Game 1 of the NBA Finals with a hyperextension of his left knee, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

That news comes on the heels of Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer telling reporters during Finals media day that Antetokounmpo had been making "good progress" ahead of Game 1.

The 26-year-old suffered the injury in Game 4 of the Bucks' Eastern Conference Finals series against the Atlanta Hawks. An MRI revealed Antetokounmpo's ligaments were sound and that he had no structural damage to his left knee, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.

The 6'11", 242-pound Antetokounmpo missed the rest of Game 4 and all of Games 5 and 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which the Bucks won 4-2.

Antetokounmpo, who won the 2018-19 and 2019-20 NBA MVP awards, averaged 28.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game for the Bucks this year. He also earned his fifth All-Star appearance, his fifth All-NBA honor and fourth NBA All-Defensive team recognition.

Without him, the Bucks opted to put Bobby Portis in the starting lineup for Games 5 and 6 against the Hawks. 

The 26-year-old Portis, a 6'10", 250-pound power forward, averaged 17.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in those matchups. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday were also asked to carry a greater offensive load sans Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks now hope to win their first NBA Finals series since 1971, but the Phoenix Suns stand in the way. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET in Phoenix.

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul sits as a +170 favorite (bet $100 to win $170) at FanDuel Sportsbook to be named the NBA Finals MVP.

Teammate and shooting guard Devin Booker is second at +270 ahead of the Suns' best-of-seven matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, which begins Tuesday in Phoenix.

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (+350) is third on the ledger, and teammates Khris Middleton (+650) and Jrue Holiday (+1000) round out the top five. 

Antetokounmpo suffered a hyperextended left knee in Game 4 of the Bucks' Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on June 29. He did not play in Games 5 and 6 of the Bucks' 4-2 series win.

Jared Greenberg of NBA on TNT and NBA TV provided an update on Antetokounmpo's uncertain status ahead of Game 1:

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

Suns center Deandre Ayton (+2500), Suns forward Mikal Bridges (+12000) and Bucks center Brook Lopez (+13000) round out the NBA Finals MVP odds list.

The Suns are -195 favorites to win the series, per FanDuel. The Bucks are +165 underdogs.

Phoenix is also a six-point favorite for Game 1, which will occur on Tuesday at 9 p.m. at Phoenix Suns Arena.

---

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Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo "is making good progress" with his hyperextended knee as he hopes to work his way back for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, per head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Budenholzer's comments come on the heels of a report from Jared Greenberg of NBA TV, who said Antetokounmpo had made "significant progress."

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

Giannis is holding a workout in front of an "army of observers," per Greenberg, which includes team personnel, medical staff and people in his own camp. 

Milwaukee is set to face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

The hearts of Bucks fans dropped when the two-time MVP left Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals with what appeared to be a potentially serious knee injury.

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

Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe of ESPN reported Antetokounmpo didn't suffer any structural damage to his left knee, so it wasn't the worst-case scenario.

In spite of his absence, Milwaukee closed out the conference semifinals in six games, winning Games 5 and 6 by 11 points apiece.

That didn't diminish the 26-year-old's importance to the Bucks, though. He was the team's leading scorer (28.1 points) and rebounder (11.0) and finished second in assists (5.9) during the regular season. In the pressure cooker that is the NBA playoffs, Milwaukee needs to lean on its top talents even more.

Perhaps the Bucks can go on to win their second championship without Antetokounmpo for all or most of the series. But they're unquestionably a worse team until he returns, and that doesn't bode well against a Suns squad that has met every challenge before it so far.