The Phoenix Suns prevailed once more in a fast and furious Game 2 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Thursday’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Phoenix claiming the 118-108 victory off a 31-point night by Devin Booker.
No sequence was more fast or furious than with nearly 34 seconds left before halftime. In the span of about 20 seconds, 10 different passes were made among Phoenix, culminating with Deandre Ayton converting an extra point after being fouled while scoring.
“That’s just who we are,” Suns coach Monty Williams affirmed postgame to reporters. Williams chalked it up to his San Antonio days with Gregg Popovich, sharing the ball and affecting the defense. “Now it’s not commonplace in the NBA to have that many passes but that was a huge momentum play for us.”
Yet, the Bucks still didn’t relent; Milwaukee took the lead early on, establishing a presence under the basket offensively and defensively. But Phoenix’s three consecutive three-point shots proved to be an omen.
The Suns went on to make precisely 20-of-40 three-pointers attempted. Devin Booker’s team-best 7-of-12 from that mark helping stave off the Bucks’ rallies. The effort also ignited an already tremendously loud fanbase at Phoenix Suns Arena to scream with glee.
“Our guys shoot a ton of shots every day, as everybody does in the NBA, but those are the moments that [Booker] lives for,” Williams told reporters. “[He] doesn’t run from it. I’ve seen it from him for two years. He just steps up and makes big plays.”
Freak Mode Not Enough For Milwaukee
Giannis Antetokounmpo played with fervor, scoring an impressive 42 points despite being given the Hack-A-Shaq treatment all night. The strategy resulted in a 61.1% free throw making on 11-of-18.
His 20 points in the third quarter were the most by anyone in a Finals quarter since Michael Jordan scored 22 in 1993 against Phoenix.
The rest of Milwaukee couldn’t keep up despite Pat Connaughton shooting 4-for-9 from deep off the bench. Khris Middleton’s scoring efficiency dipped, only getting 11 points off a 5-for-16 outing. Jrue Holiday scored 17 but off a 7-of-21 shooting night.
During the postgame, Bucks coach Mike Budeholzer credited said shooting woes to Phoenix’s defense, saying, “Those guys do a good job.”
“Jrue was getting to the paint a lot. I liked his aggressiveness,” Budlenholzer continued. “I think we need all three of those guys. I think if they just keep working, they will come good.”
Work they must, as Antetokounmpo was shown during the television broadcast passionately trying to get his teammates into the game. It worked to an extent as Milwaukee outrebounded Phoenix, 56 to 50.
The Bucks practically did everything right, significantly more points in the paint (54 to 28) plus more second-chance points (23 to 19). Yet, all that effort was torched metaphorically by the Suns’ deep shooting.
“[Chris Paul] and Book, they were able to get into the pick-and-roll play and get in the middle,” Khris Middleton lamented postgame. “Sometimes we overhelp and sometimes they hit tough shots. They did a good job of spreading the floor, getting to the middle and then drive-and-kick and find the shooters.”
Suns’ Shots And Depth Dents
Despite three’s ultimately waking the Suns into overcoming the Bucks’ early start, 50% shooting from deep is still 50%. Being hit-or-miss is not a trend Phoenix hopes to continue as the series heads to Milwaukee for Game 3 starting Sunday, July 11th.
Even though Booker’s night went well in the end, his start was subpar. At one point, Booker was 9-of-21 from the field before finally adjusting for the better.
“Just slowed it down a bit,” Booker explained postgame. “Early in the game just amped, excited and shooting a few things long, rushing a few shots. So just getting back to fundamentals.”
Nevertheless, a slow start can’t happen for Phoenix during the next two games in Milwaukee. Moreover, the depth of the Suns is minus one more after forward Torrey Craig suffered a right knee contusion in the third quarter.
Phoenix previously lost center Dario Šarić indefinitely in Game 1 after he tore his ACL in his right knee. Losing Craig may not be cataclysmic, but it’s not helpful. Especially when Phoenix values its depth so deeply and sincerely.
As of the writing of this article, there is no update in Craig’s status.
Suns fans may be celebrating being halfway to the Suns’ first championship, but the Suns themselves aren’t as Mikal Bridges noted postgame.
“Got to treat it like it’s Game 1,” Bridges asserted after his 27-point night. “We talk about it in the locker room and our next game is the most important game. That’s in the regular season, that’s in the playoffs, the Finals no matter what, our next game is our most important game.”
With the way Phoenix took over once more, there’s strong momentum favoring the Suns going to Milwaukee. But the Bucks remain stingy and will be with the next two games on their turf.
But for now, Planet Orange is up two games to none in the Finals. Considering Phoenix’s past history at this stage, that’s reason enough to celebrate just for one night.
Featured Image courtesy of AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
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