The Phoneix Suns went on a third-quarter eruption on their way to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 118-105 Tuesday night in game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals played in Phoenix Suns Arena.
By the end of the third period, the Suns’ trio of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton had already combined for 67 points, 27, 22, and 18 respectively.
“I saw the shots they were giving me, and I just started making them,” said the 17-year vet in a post-game interview.” It’s just one game, we got to stay locked in. We got one, we got to get another one.”
The lead extended to as many 20 points 88-66, and Suns point guard Chris Paul, who finished the game with 32 points and nine assists, anchored the third-quarter avalanche by scoring 16 points.
The Bucks began to show life in the fourth quarter to cut the lead down to 7 points after a 7-foot jumper by Jrue Holiday, a layup by Kris Middleton, Byran Forbes three-pointer, and a second chance layup by Giannis Antetokounmpo. That brought the score to 101-94 with 7:16 left to go.
Pheonix quieted the storm with a Booker three off, and the Suns took control of the rest of the game. Booker finished with 27 points six assists, and Ayton had 22 points and 19 rebounds.
Middleton led the Bucks with 29 points and seven rebounds, and Antetokounmpo added 20 points and 17 rebounds.
The two teams exchanged buckets for the most part in the first quarter, but the Suns did enough to hold a 4-point 30-26 advantage.
The Suns doubled their lead in the second quarter as they went into the half with an 8-point 57-49 lead, but the Bucks had no answer for the Suns in the third.
Midway through the quarter, the Suns took off and doubled their point total. They led by 16 with 4:41 to go in the third quarter and closed with the quarter leading by 17.
