The Bucks are looking to ride that momentum back to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Tuesday, registering their third straight win, 123-119, in Game 5 on Saturday. One victory there and the Bucks would win their second NBA title in franchise history and their first since 1971.
Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 32 points and nine rebounds, Khris Middleton had 29 and seven boards, and Jew Holiday added 27 points and 13 assists for Milwaukee. Holiday also made a crucial steal from Devin Booker in the waning moments of the fourth quarter to thwart a late bid for a Phoenix return.
“It makes everything more balanced,” Middleton said of the three-pronged attack. “Knowing that when we play together and when we are playing on all cylinders makes everyone’s life easier. … When we are all playing well, we are one of the best teams. are one. Sure.”
The Bucks overcame an early 16-point deficit by exploding for 43 points in the second quarter.
Milwaukee became the second team in NBA Finals history to hold the lead at halftime after trailing by 15 points after the first quarter. The Boston Celtics had previously achieved the feat in the 1957 final against the St. Louis Hawks.
“We kept our composure, we kept fighting,” Antetokounmpo said in an ESPN post-game interview. “It’s the NBA Finals, so you have to give everything you got. And that’s what the team did tonight.”
Booker scored 40 points in the second game in a row. This is the fourth time he has reached a 40-point plateau this post season.
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Chris Paul finished with 21 points and 11 assists, and Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy. We didn’t expect it,” Paul said. “It’s tough. Coaches said this all year long, ‘Everything you want is on the other side of hard,’ and it doesn’t get more difficult than this.”
The Sons narrowed the 10-point deficit to start the fourth quarter down to three after Booker took out a 3-pointer. Antetokounmpo missed both free-throw attempts on the next possession and Paul made a driving layup with 56.6 seconds remaining to trim Milwaukee’s lead to 120-119.
Holiday stole the ball from Booker and set up Antetokounmpo for a gully-oop with 13.5 seconds to play. Antetokounmpo missed the ensuing free throw, but Milwaukee regained possession and Phoenix promptly fouled Middleton. He made one of two attempts to make it a two-possession game.
The Sons were the best road team in the NBA during the regular season. Now, they must win in Milwaukee to bind Game 7.
“We have to win a game to get them back on the plane. That’s it,” said Phoenix coach Monty Williams.
The Sons were in a scorching heat right out of the gate, 14 of 19 shots from the floor and 5 of 6 from 3-point range to take a 37-21 lead after the first quarter.
The Bucks scored 29-12 to start the second quarter. Bobby Portis caps the lead with a 3-pointer to give Milwaukee a 50-49 lead.
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