After a vile two-game start on the road against the Phoenix Suns in these NBA Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks knew how important Game 3 was shaping up to be.
With their backs up against the wall, the Bucks came out in front of an energized home crowd and delivered an all-around phenomenal performance from start to finish. After an impressive four quarters of some of the best basketball this team has played this postseason, the Bucks would secure their first win in a Finals game since 1974 by convincingly taking down the Suns 120-100.
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Understanding the heightened importance of this matchup, the Bucks looked more aggressive on both ends of the floor from the opening tip. After a rocky first quarter, they managed to take firm control of the game thanks to a prolific run in the second quarter that saw them end the half on a 16-0 run.
The Bucks keep their title hopes alive after securing a massive Game 3 win, and here are three takeaways from the contest.
Giannis Antetokounmpo delivers another masterclass in Game 3 win over Phoenix Suns
What Giannis Antetokounmpo has managed to showcase throughout his first three games in the NBA Finals is astonishing.
With his team desperately needing this victory, Antetokounmpo took charge on the offensive end and looked to be more aggressive all night. Bulldozing his way close to the basket consistently, the Greek Freak finished with a herculean 41 points on 60.9 percent shooting. With Phoenix big man Deandre Ayton getting in foul trouble, Antetokounmpo managed to take advantage of the Suns’ lack of size out on the court and simply dominate.
His aggressive nature offensively led to several trips to the free throw line, where Antetokounmpo looked calm and collective throughout the contest. Not having to hear the opposing crowd count from the second he touched the ball with hopes of getting a 10-second violation, he would shoot a stellar 13-of-17 from the stripe. In addition to his prolific scoring night, Giannis would haul in 13 rebounds, dish out six assists to just one turnover, and grab a steal in his 37-and-a-half minutes of action.
Antetokounmpo has been on another planet during this series as his Game 2 stat line was similar to last night’s effort, putting up 42 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. He has been flat-out dominant throughout these first two games, and his heroic efforts have helped him join some elite company after last night’s meeting with back-to-back 40-point double-doubles.
Sheeeesh Giannis is on another level 👀 pic.twitter.com/iGLsv2bxlB
— FanSided (@FanSided) July 12, 2021
This comes just over a week after there were doubts whether or not Antetokounmpo would play again this postseason after that grueling knee injury. Not only has the two-time MVP battled through it thus far, but he has elevated his game so mightily that he continues etching his name in the history books amongst some of the greatest to ever suit up.
Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton come to life in Game 3 win over Phoenix Suns
Among the biggest storylines that were talking points following the first two games for the Bucks was the minimal contributions from Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. The pair had been rather lackluster on the road, but with the team needing them to keep their hopes alive back on their home floor, they stepped up significantly.
Holiday was fantastic throughout on the offensive end, an area he particularly struggled with previously, by finishing as the team’s second-leading scorer with 21 points. The guard looked far more comfortable on the offensive end than he had before, shooting an efficient 8-of-14 from the floor and an eye-catching 5-of-10 from behind the arc. He would also facilitate the ball well by handing out nine assists, playing a massive part in Milwaukee’s key emphasis on ball movement to get the offense back on track.
Meanwhile, Middleton did not exactly flip the switch and dominate in Game 3 as he has done all throughout these playoffs, but he clocked in a solid effort. Milwaukee’s starting two-guard would tally 18 points, 7 rebounds, and six assists, doing some of everything to keep the wheels turning as the Bucks looked to remain in control of this game. The Bucks are still waiting for Middleton to find his offensive groove consistently in this series, but whether the swingman was scoring, facilitating, or playmaking, he had a massive impact in this win.
These two stepped up to aid Antetokounmpo and assure that this performance would not end in defeat like the previous one, and the team will undeniably need the pair to build some sustainable momentum from last night’s Game 3. The wheels for this team start turning far easier when shots are falling and the individual defense is more aggressive from Middleton and Holiday.
The Milwaukee Bucks tighten up their defense in Game 3 win over Phoenix Suns
Milwaukee’s defense had undoubtedly been poor throughout the first two games, looking like a shell of themselves. Understanding that they would have to ramp up the aggression and get the defense back to a formidable level to limit the Suns’ offensive capabilities, the Bucks looked great on that end of the court all night long.
This was particularly evident based on the play from Phoenix’s stellar backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker. These two had torched the Bucks previously, but they emphasized making looks tougher and not allowing them to create the mismatches they previously relied so heavily on as easy as it was the first two games.
Booker had an off night shooting the basketball across his 29 minutes played by totaling a mere 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting, including 1-of-7 from deep. While he simply missed several shots, the Bucks did not make it any easier on him by giving him different looks defensively from Holiday, Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and a dash of P.J. Tucker. Holding the lethal scorer to 10 points is a rare feat, and the Bucks must keep it consistent with this aggressive style that never allowed him to find a rhythm with the ball.
As for Paul, he finished with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting, making just one shot from deep in four attempts. The guard is known for his tough shot-making abilities, and although they were on display throughout this Game 3 on numerous occasions, the Bucks did a solid job of defending him by matching him up against different personnel, including several of the names that saw time guarding Booker. The guard had feasted on Milwaukee’s big men like Brook Lopex and Bobby Portis, but they game planned this time around to prevent that from happening as frequently.
They did a far better job of ensuring that Phoenix would not get open looks on the perimeter, holding them to 9-of-31 shooting from deep. A massive portion of those made triples came from Jae Crowder, who chipped in six of his own in seven attempts. He simply caught fire from range, but the Bucks did a much better job defending the other players by preventing them from catching the hot hand once more.
All in all, the defense looked far like the Bucks that have built a reputation on defense during this postseason run. They will have to keep their foot on the gas and continue this style of play as the series progresses, particularly against these two guards who had their way with the team in the first two contests.
It was a thrilling Game 3 as the Bucks defeated the Suns, and all eyes will now shift to a pivotal Game 4 with the latter leading the series 2-1. That should be another must-see game, and be sure to catch the action at 8:00 p.m. CST on ABC this Wednesday.