NBA Finals: How Giannis Antetokounmpo powered Bucks to Game 3 win in opposition to Phoenix Suns

After dropping Game 1 and a couple of on the highway, the Milwaukee Bucks breathed life into the NBA Finals by profitable the primary of two dwelling video games 120-100 on the again of a 41-point, 13-rebound efficiency by Giannis Antetokounmpo, in opposition to the Phoenix Suns yesterday.
Best participant within the sequence
This was the primary time on this sequence the place Antetokounmpo put up a 40/10/5 efficiency. Only Shaquille O’Neal (2x), LeBron James (5x), Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler have put these numbers up within the NBA Finals earlier than.
Antetokounmpo’s entry into the unique membership was effectively on its method after his Game 2 efficiency, which was additionally a 40-point double-double. What is exceptional is that the Greek Freak resides as much as his title. Two 40-point performances, every week faraway from a hyper-extended knee is extraordinary in itself, however the actual contribution that Antetokounmpo is making is inside and on the glass. Milwaukee was 54-40 in opposition to the Suns in Game 3 when it got here to factors within the paint. Not solely is Antetokounmpo outscoring the Suns, he is occurring the opposite finish of the court docket and ensuring that they don’t rating as effectively.
A strapping centre, the seven-footer, when lacking the occasional shot, was environment friendly in selecting up an offensive rebound. Both Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, two of Milwaukee’s centres, collected eight offensive rebounds between them.
Team defence clicks
The offensive rebounds had been only one a part of Milwaukee’s defence in opposition to the Suns yesterday. This sequence was all the time going to hinge on how Antetokounmpo’s assist solid would carry out. After two low-scoring begins for the Bucks, they lastly gained their first NBA Finals recreation in 47 years via some concerted defensive effort.
The Bucks defence restricted Devin Booker to solely 10 factors on 3-14 capturing in Game 3. Mikal Bridges, who scored 27 in Game 2, turned up with a mere 4 factors yesterday. Phoenix, who shot a file 50% from three-point vary on 40 makes an attempt, took 9 lesser photographs from lengthy distance and made solely 9 of them.
Holiday returns
Jrue Holiday NBA playoffs had been occurring a nightmare run however the former New Orleans Pelican point-guard redeemed himself with a 21-point recreation on 8-14 capturing, whereas making half of his 10 three-point makes an attempt.
Holiday’s influence was what the Bucks had been lacking probably the most. His first ever video games in an NBA Final got here minus the scoring influence that Milwaukee wanted. But each him and Khris Middleton mixed for 39 factors in Game 3. While nonetheless not as a lot as each gamers are able to, it was sufficient to go with the 40-point recreation that Antetokounmpo had.
Foul bother for Suns
A serious cause the Suns couldn’t restrict Antetokounmpo’s scoring or rating extra factors within the paint was due to DeAndre Ayton being in foul bother. The 2018 No 1 draft choose was all the time going to be a defensive legal responsibility on this sequence, however after 4 fouls earlier than the second quarter ended, Suns coach Monty Williams was compelled to bench Ayton.
What didn’t assist the Suns additional was that their backup for Ayton in Dario Saric was injured and thus Williams needed to play 14 minutes with Frank Kaminsky – who allowed the Suns to be outscored by 12 factors in that interval.
Guard down
The calling card for the Suns on this sequence has all the time been Devin Booker and Chris Paul. In a league-oriented for guards, the 2 are current within the Suns line-up for the only real function of being ball-handlers who can rating at will.
Yet in Game 3, each went 2-11 from three-point vary and had been a mixed 29 factors. The solely comfort that the Suns can take away is that this was doubtless an off night time for his or her guard-duo and that each Bookers and Paul could have a greater capturing hand in Game 4.