Claudia Collins
The Phoenix Suns hosted the Milwaukee Bucks in the newly-named Footprint Center on Saturday night. Chris Paul said it was vital that the Suns “protect home court” ahead of Game 5 but that proved to be a tall task. The Bucks defeated the Suns, 123-119 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. Both teams put up impressive offensive stats – Milwaukee 57.5%, Phoenix 55.2%. The Suns had an impressive first quarter and took a 16 point lead, but it was the Bucks that became unstoppable in the third quarter and ran away with it all.
Here are some of the defining Game 5 moments that ultimately resulted in a Bucks win.
First Quarter
And now the big-time DUNK from Jae Crowder! 💥
He's 3-3.. #NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/KV07qIt63f
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
🚨 The @Suns have made 10 straight shots! 🚨#NBAFinals on ABC
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
Devin Booker robbed of an all-time highlight on Giannis. @nba shameful. pic.twitter.com/xKFduWHDiI
— Sami ON Tap (@SamiOnTap) July 18, 2021
The @Suns went 14-19 in the 1st Q! 🥵
2Q underway.. #NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/UKvEfMQTmy
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
D-Book over Giannis. Cash 💰
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/EVv7ngXQ4g
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 18, 2021
The Suns made 11 straight FG in the 1st quarter of Game 5 vs the Bucks. That's tied for the longest streak in a Finals game over the last 20 years (Lakers in Game 5 of 2020 Finals) h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/8fDYTUKOIa
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 18, 2021
Second Quarter
The Suns complete the first quarter with a 16-point lead and all the momentum they need…things are looking good, right? Wrong. The Bucks started to sink shots and protect their basket. The Bucks dominated the second quarter right from the jump going on an 11-3 run in the first two and a half minutes…and they dominated the second quarter, even with their star player on the bench for a bit.
Jrue attacks the paint. pic.twitter.com/ROneKM13O8
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
Smash Mountain caps off an 11-3 Bucks run!! pic.twitter.com/IbJ5sjM9w9
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
16-POINT DEFICIT ERASED WITH GIANNIS ON THE BENCH pic.twitter.com/rg5E4HTTNx
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) July 18, 2021
Bobby Portis coming up BIG 💪
(via @Bucks)pic.twitter.com/BMVKS4pvJW
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) July 18, 2021
JRUE. LOCKED IN.
He's got 14 in the 2Q and 18 in the game on 8-11 shooting.. #NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/DOEFjg1a1r
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
Chris Paul scores right before the buzzer, but it's hard to be excited about anything after such a pathetic 2Q. You can feel the anxiety in the building. To go from 16 up to 3 down at halftime is horrendous
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) July 18, 2021
The Bucks 43 points in the 2nd quarter are the most by a team in a quarter of the Finals since the Cavaliers scored 49 in the 1st quarter against the Warriors in 2017. It’s tied for the most in a Finals quarter on the road all time. pic.twitter.com/UZAtlSOadQ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 18, 2021
Third Quarter
Things didn’t get much better for the Suns after halftime. In fact, the Bucks clearly carried their second-quarter momentum over to the second half of the game. Jrue Holiday was the name of the game in the third quarter, making things hard on the Suns on both sides of the court.
Devin Booker tough pull-up.. got it.
He's 5-5 in the 3Q 😳#NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/s0YqgNNXSR
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
JRUE JRUE JRUE
HOLIDAY!!! #LasFinalesDeTodaLaVida pic.twitter.com/oYkfVJIy8n
— NBASpain (@NBAspain) July 18, 2021
Defense ➡️ Offense
Jrue Holiday is doing it all 😤 pic.twitter.com/71sp2nW0Ei
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 18, 2021
Jrue Holiday is going OFF.
He's 10-13, 23 PTS
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/mtES9RBGfC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 18, 2021
The Bucks overcame a 16-point deficit after 1Q to lead at halftime, becoming the 2nd team in Finals history to lead at halftime after trailing by 15+ points after 1Q.
The Boston Celtics were the first, doing so in the 1957 Finals vs. the St. Louis Hawks. (@EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/yP0Yr4CUnc
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) July 18, 2021
Fourth Quarter
Giannis and Jrue were a force to be reckoned with. The Suns tried everything they could to throw together a comeback…and they almost did. The final few minutes of the game had Suns fans jumping out of their seats after the Suns were able to close the gap and make it a one-point game.
Jrue with 25 points! Bucks up 10!
4Q: https://t.co/AYipQpeyBw #NBA #FearTheDeer
pic.twitter.com/C0yxJ4vHf3— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 18, 2021
Giannis SLAMS home the putback!
He's got 24.. @Bucks up 10 in the 4th Q on ABC. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/Y0hg5EhTYD
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
Giannis did call BANK. pic.twitter.com/yMbiOVGbC3
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
CP3 hits the tough bucket 👀 pic.twitter.com/qyNXgvOGPS
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 18, 2021
DEVIN BOOKER! pic.twitter.com/9L3hij3zjh
— ESPN (@espn) July 18, 2021
Giannis missed both free throws? pic.twitter.com/12UcPeMtKw
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 18, 2021
Chris Paul to the bucket.. 1-point game on ABC! #NBAFinals @Bucks 120@Suns 119
37.8 left. Bucks ball pic.twitter.com/hQgr0dJgjT
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1416601744696430594
The Bucks trailed by 16 points at the end of the 1st quarter and won. This is the 2nd-largest comeback at the end of the 1st quarter in Finals history. On June 12, 2008, the Celtics trailed by 21 points at the end of the 1st quarter and won vs the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/0V64D8gv1d
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 18, 2021
Devin Booker is the first player in NBA history to have 40+ points in back-to-back Finals games and lose both games. pic.twitter.com/cCjrElbZqB
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 18, 2021
Final: MIL 123, PHX 119
Booker: 40 Pts, 17-33 FG
Paul: 21 Pts, 11 Ast, 9-15 FG
Ayton: 20 Pts, 10 Reb
Antetokounmpo: 32 Pts, 9 Reb, 6 Ast— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) July 18, 2021
The TOP 3 KEY PLAYS from Game 5 of the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV.. with the Bucks taking a 3-2 lead!
Game 6: Tuesday, 9pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/gvDELYe1XY
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
Game 5 was almost a comeback story for the Suns, instead, it was the Bucks comeback story after winning 123-119. Milwaukee bounced back from a 16-point deficit in the first quarter to come away with the win on the Suns’ home court. The Suns get the opportunity to win on the Bucks home court on Tuesday for Game 6.
