The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to win their first NBA Finals since 1971 on Tuesday night in front of a home crowd.
Despite going down 2-0 to the Phoenix Suns, the Bucks have been able to win three straight games including Game 5 on the road — the first time a road team won a game in the series.
The Bucks have been able to battle back in the series on the back of Kris Middleton in games three, four, and five. Middleton is averaging 42.7 minutes a game in the Bucks three wins in the series with 29 points and 6.7 rebounds a game while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three. His play — paired with the wins — is a big reason why many think Middleton could be primed to win Finals MVP if the Bucks are able to close out the series on Tuesday night.
For the Suns, Chirs Paul struggled significantly in games two, three, and four of the series, but he looked to regroup a little bit on Saturday night in game four. Paul had 15 combined turnovers in Games two-four but had just one in Game five while dishing out 11 assists.
The Suns need Paul to play at a high level again on Tuesday if they want to force a Game seven in Phoenix.
Booker Needs to Keep Writing Chapters to the Book
Devin Booker has taken the NBA Playoffs by storm this summer, and when he has played really well, the Suns have won. Booker was really good in Game four when he scored 40 points on 17-of-33 shooting from the field in his 41 minutes.
Booker has the ability to fill it up like few do in the NBA, but he has to do it efficiently for the Suns offense to really thrive. What’s really impressive about Booker’s 40 points on Saturday is that he had just four free throws and a pair of threes, so most of his points came about from inside the three-point line.
If Booker is able to shoot threes at a higher volume and knock them down in Game six that would be a massive boost for the Suns in their efforts in trying to force a Game Seven.
Does Giannis go Down in History?
Giannis Antekokounmpo had one of the greatest blocks in NBA Finals history near the end of Game Four of the series. The play helped the Bucks close out the Suns final push inside the final two minutes of the game.
Antekokounmpo is averaging 32.2 points a game, 13 rebounds and 5.6 assists and is shooting over 61 percent from the field in the series. The two-time MVP might have the ability to win his first NBA Finals MVP if he has another great game and the Bucks win the series.
The Bucks needs Antetokounmpo to have another great game, alongside Middleton. The two have been a nightmare to defend along with Jrue Holiday in the games the Bucks have won in the series.
Pick
This series always seemed destined to go seven games, but when the Bucks won Game five in Phoenix, it felt like the Suns’ Cinderella run to the FInals might be coming to an end. What kind of magic do Paul, Booker and DeAndre Ayton have up their sleeve?
It’s hard to see the Bucks letting this series get back to Phoenix, and with the way Middelton and Antekokounmpo have been playing, siding with the Bucks is the safe, smart bet.
The Bucks will clinch their first finals win since 1971 and Antekokounmpo wins the Finals MVP on Tuesday night.