NBA Finals: Giannis, Bucks come back in the series to beat Suns in game 3

Inspired by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 41 points and 13 rebound grabs, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated Phoenix Suns 120-110 in game 3 of the NBA Finals. 

The Bucks were trailing 2-0 in the series after Phoenix, with home advantage, secured consecutive wins. The third game was a must-win for the Milwaukee Bucks and their best player guided the team past the winning line. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 41 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The two-time MVP also got support from his teammates, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, who combined for 39 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds on 14-for-28 shooting (8 of 17 from 3-point range). Defensively, the Bucks choked the Phoenix trio – Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges – to 33 combined points. 

Also read: NBA’s Orlando Magic rope in Jamahl Mosley as head coach

Antetokounmpo scored 13 of his 17 free-throw attempts. Only once in his playoff career had he shot such a high percentage on at least 10 free throws. By scoring 41 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player to score 40+ points in back-to-back NBA Finals games since LeBron James (41 points in Games 5 and 6 of the 2016 Finals).

“To give ourselves an opportunity to win this series, we’ve got to stay aggressive,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s all going to be mental from here.”

Also read: Novak Djokovic wins heart after trophy, gives his racket to young fan. Watch

“We knew what type of game it was going to be,” Antetokounmpo said. “We knew we had to play good basketball. I was trying to be as aggressive as I could.”

“I was trying to drive and open things up. I knew I had to get Khris and Jrue involved,” Antetokounmpo said. “My teammates want me to be aggressive.”

The Bucks, hosting their first NBA Finals game in 47 years, improved to an NBA-best 8-1 at home in the playoffs by beating the Suns, who had been a playoffs-best 6-2 on the road.

  Also read: Novak Djokovic and his 6 winning runs at Wimbledon

“We knew what we had to do. We knew what this game meant to us, to the city,” Holiday said. “It was about us coming out hard and being able to execute.”

The Bucks won their only NBA crown in 1971 while the Suns seek the first title in their 53-year team history.

Holiday went 8-of-14 after struggling in the first two games, Antetokounmpo drawing defenders to ease his outside shooting efforts.

“It’s awesome. Knocking down shots, it just fuels us and gives us energy,” Holiday said. “We’re going to keep feeding it to him. We have to stay confident and knock down the shots.”

Suns guard Chris Paul, in the first NBA Finals of his 16-year career at age 36, scored 19 points to lead Phoenix.

  Also read: In pics: Novak Djokovic to Ashleigh Barty, the glory winners at Wimbledon 2021

Bahamas big man Deandre Ayton scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half. Jae Crowder added 18 for the Suns.

Phoenix guard Devin Booker missed seven of his first eight shots and went 3-of-14 from the floor, 1-of-7 from 3-point range, in scoring only 10 points.

Phoenix grabbed a 36-30 lead, but the Bucks responded with a 20-6 spurt, Antetokounmpo scoring nine points to lead the way, in seizing a 50-42 edge.

Milwaukee closed the first half on a 10-0 run, Bobby Portis hitting a dunk and 3-pointer in the streak for a 60-45 Bucks half-time advantage.

The Suns began the third quarter by hitting 9-of-10 shots from the floor and pulled within 74-70, with Cam Johnson scoring 10 points and Crowder hitting three 3-pointers.

  Also read: Novak Djokovic: Grand Slam warrior in battle to be people’s champion

But Milwaukee battled back, scoring the final 16 points of the third quarter to grab a 98-76 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Antetokounmpo, who had 18 points in the first half, scored 16 in the third quarter while Holiday added 12.

“I felt like the momentum was going their way before that,” Holiday said. “I got the momentum going back on our side.”

The Bucks held the Suns at bay in the fourth quarter, ensuring a fifth game Saturday at Phoenix.

Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum hosts the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday local time. The series stands 2-1 favouring the Suns.