Milwaukee, United States (AFP) – Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in an all-round performance as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns 105-98 on Tuesday to claim their first NBA title since 1971.
The Bucks won a best-of-seven NBA Finals win out of four games, becoming only the fifth team to claim the crown after skipping the first two competitions.
Antetokounmpo, only the seventh player in Finals history with 50 points a game, added 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Bucks scored an NBA-best 10-1 at home in the playoffs to end their 50-year title drought. Won from.
“I want to thank Milwaukee for believing in me. I want to thank my teammates for working hard with me,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m grateful that I was able to accomplish this.”
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo was suspected for the opener with a hyperextended knee.
But the 26-year-old Greek forward joined Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only player to take home the NBA Finals MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.
“He’s a special person. I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s a special leader,” said Bucks coach Mike Buddenholzer. “These players are champions every day. They’ve got to get better every day.”
An expanded “Deer District” party area outside the 20,000-seat sold-out arena welcomed 65,000 people watching on video screens and had the festivities they had hoped to enjoy.
“I’m glad I was able to do this for Milwaukee with this team,” Antetokounmpo said. “And Coach Bud says we have to do it again.”
The Sun was foiled in his bid for the first crown in its 53-year history. Phoenix guard Chris Paul, playing in his first NBA Finals appearance of 16 years at age 36, led the Suns to 26 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks takes a shot against Deandre Ayton and Jay Crowder of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of game six of the NBA Finals at the Fisher Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Jonathan Daniels / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP)
“It’s sad. Bad,” said Suns coach Monty Williams. “But I’m also grateful that we got the chance to play for the championship. Fourth quarter, it was clear we couldn’t score enough. We just couldn’t convert. “
The relentless Antetokounmpo, an often weak free throw shooter who scored 17-in-19 from the line, scored 12 of his 20 points in a 16-8 Bucks run, giving Milwaukee a 58-55 lead, only 4:34 second shift.
He was the first player in the final since Jordan with a quarter of 20 points and the game hung on a knife’s edge, entering the fourth quarter at a 77–77 stalemate.
Antetokounmpo scored eight runs for the Bucks in a 10-6 Milwaukee run and scored for a 94-88 lead in the middle in the fourth quarter and would respond again when the Suns cut the Bucks’ lead.
Phoenix’s Jay Crowder made two free throws to pull the Suns within 100-96 with 1:14 remaining, but Khris Middleton responded with a jumper and added two free throws for an eight-point Milwaukee lead.
Paul missed a 3-pointer, Middleton caught the rebound, and Bucks fans began to celebrate.
“Everyone has to process it and collect their thoughts,” Paul said after the game.
Chris Middleton and members of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate after defeating the Phoenix Suns in game six to win the 2021 NBA Finals at the Fisher Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Jonathan Daniels / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP)
Middleton added 17 points for the Bucks, while Bobby Portis added 16 points from the Bucks bench and Jew Holiday added 12 points and 11 assists.
Devin Booker added 19 points for the Phoenix while Crowder had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns.
Paul fell 0–13 in the playoff games when game-six referee crew chief Scott Foster officiated. Paul was critical of Foster after the previous outing.
The streak included a win over Milwaukee in game three of the final, in which Antetokounmpo had 17 free throws and the Sons had only 16.