After defeating the Phoenix Suns 105-98, the Milwaukee Bucks have won the NBA for the first time in 50 years. Giannis Antetokounmpo was awarded Finals MVP after putting on one of the most spectacular performances in NBA Finals history to seal the Game 6 victory and give Milwaukee its second title.
The Bucks narrowly defeated the Phoenix Suns in front of roughly 80,000 spectators inside and outside of the Fiserv Forum. The top offensive squad in the regular season did it again with defense to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Milwaukee Bucks rallied by winning four straight games to capture the crown on their home court after falling behind 0-2 for the second time this postseason.
From Game 5 to Game 6, it was practically an exact role reversal for both teams. The Suns took a double-digit lead in Arizona on Saturday, but it was short-lived as Milwaukee quickly erased the margin in the second quarter.
In the first quarter, both teams got off to poor starts as jitters surfaced. The Suns shot 1/8 from the field in the first quarter and scored only 16 points, while the Bucks battled to keep possession, turning the ball over seven times in the first 12 minutes.
Milwaukee had a 13-point lead going into the second quarter after an 11-2 run, but the Suns cut the advantage to three after scoring ten straight points out of the quarter change. Phoenix drew even with the Bucks in just 6 minutes, and went into halftime with a five-point advantage after outscoring the Bucks 31-13.
Coming out of the locker room, Giannis went into hero mode, scoring 20 points in the third quarter. The Greek had 37 of Milwaukee’s 77 points going into the fourth quarter.
Antetokounmpo not only played well on the court, but he also made 17 of 19 free throws, several of which came late in the fourth quarter to help secure the win and the title for the title-less city. In a postseason run that will yield so many spectacular performances, the Greek saved the finest for last. Giannis scored 50 points in the game, becoming only the seventh player in NBA history to do so in a finals game.
