Giannis Antetokoumpo showed up in huge way in one of the biggest games of his career. The star center had 50 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks Tuesday night to help lead the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA Championship since 1971 with a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee won four straight after losing the first two games to take the best of seven series 4-2.
It looked early as if Milwaukee may run away with it, using a strong last 2:30 of the first quarter to go up 29-16. Phoenix though bounced back in the second outscoring Milwaukee by 18 and took their first lead and a seven point advantage, which was 47-42 at halftime. The Bucks pushed back into the lead by as many as six in the third, but the game was tied headed to the fourth at 77-77. The hosts took the lead for good on a Bobby Portis floating jumpshot with 9:57 to play. After Jae Crowder cut it to a four point deficit for the Suns with 1:14 to go, Khris Middleton hit the dagger with a tough 16 foot jumper 17 seconds later to put it away. Milwaukee finishes their remarkable season at 62-33.
Antetokoumpo was 16-25 from the floor and big at the foul line hitting 17-19 on the night. He also took home the NBA Finals MVP. Middleton had 17 points, while Portis added 16. Also getting into double figures was Jrue Holiday with 12, and Brook Lopez with 10. Phoenix, who is still in search of that elusive first title, finished the season with a record of 65-29. The Suns also put five players in double figures led by 26 points from Chris Paul. Devin Booker had 19, Crowder 15, DeAndre Ayton 12, and Cameron Payne had 10 points. Paul becomes the first NBA player ever to lose four series in the playoffs in which the team he was on had a 2-0 lead.
