In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Brooklyn Nets routed the Milwaukee Bucks not once, but twice, to open up a 2-0 series lead that looked more than halfway to a sweep. Kyrie Irving sprained his ankle and could not return, but it was more than that that helped the Bucks win that series in seven games. A renewed commitment to defense and team play on offense got the Bucks back in business. Now in the Finals, the Bucks again looked lackluster in the first two games, getting trounced twice by the Phoenix Suns. Then the series shifted back to Milwaukee, and all of a sudden Giannis Antetokunmpo’s supporting cast came to life on offense, and the defense woke up, and the Bucks won by 20. What will happen next?
Check out the latest sports betting odds on the NBA Finals, as well as our thoughts on Game 3 and the rest of the series.
NBA News: Who Will Really Win the Finals After Game 3
Team Championship Odds
Phoenix Suns -275 / Milwaukee Bucks +225
Remember when we thought Giannis’ season was done when he hyperextended his knee against Atlanta? He missed Games 5 and 6, but the Bucks’ supporting cast, led by Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, shut down the upstart Hawks and got Milwaukee to the Finals. Then Giannis came back, looking a little tentative in Game 1 but then rolling through Game 2 — even though the rest of the team looked listless on offense. In Game 3, he was even better, putting up 41 points, 13 boards and six assists. He went 13 of 17 from the line, a marked improvement from Game 2, but an even bigger number was 5 — he made all of his field goals from five feet or closer to the rim, as the Bucks finally exploited their size advantage. Jrue Holiday rebounded nicely after struggling in Phoenix, knocking down five three-balls and scoring 21 points overall. Khris Middleton put up 18 as well.
It didn’t help the Suns that Devin Booker was ice cold, going 3 of 14 and scoring only ten points. Chris Paul put up 19 points and nine assists. Even so, Phoenix got a strong start from Deandre Ayton, who had a dozen points in the first period, and the Suns led 36-30 early in the second. Mike Budenholzer called a timeout, and then the Bucks went on a 30-9 run to finish the first half. They kept up the pressure in the third, finishing with a 16-0 run. During that 30-9 run, Giannis put up a 7-0 run all by himself.
Phoenix had knocked down 20 three-pointers in Game 2 but only mustered nine in Game 3. Mikal Bridges, who set a career playoff best with 27 points in Game 2, only had four points in Game 3 — and only took four shots. The question remains as to whether the Suns can get things going on the road. Milwaukee has the higher ceiling, especially if you compare Antetokounmpo to Booker head to head and then look at the cast around both of them. Phoenix is the better team when it comes to spreading the floor and draining buckets, while Milwaukee is better when the game moves inside.
So what is next in this series? Booker’s shot will return, and Bridges won’t be as tentative in Game 4. Expect the Bucks to keep pounding it inside with Giannis — but also expect more of that inside-out game that finds open shooters. The Bucks play significantly better at Fiserv Forum, and Middleton and Holiday are the type that contributes in bunches. Ayton got in foul trouble for the Suns early, and he’ll have to be more careful on defense in Game 4. I like the Bucks because of their higher ceiling, but I also see this series going the distance.
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