Milwaukee Bucks’ Nigerian-born star, Giannis Adetokunbo (Antetokounmpo) netted 42 points in Game 2 of USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) finals, but he could not save his side from suffering another loss to Phoenix Suns.
Megasportsaena.com reports that Antetokounmpo was the most dominant force on the court, while Milwaukee reserve Pat Connaughton got a clean look at a 3-pointer that would have made it 103-100 just inside of five minutes left, but Devin Booker helped The Suns take a 2-0 series lead.
Booker and Chris Paul had an answer for every Bucks run, scoring 31 and 23 points, respectively, in a 118-108 win that thrust The Suns within two wins of their first championship, as the series moves to Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 42 points on 15-for-22 shooting (11-18 FT) and added 12 rebounds, while The Bucks’ co-stars Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday combined to shoot just 12 for 37 from the field (32%).
The loss spoiled a remarkable effort in Antetokounmpo’s second game back from a hyperextended knee, though he Middleton and Holiday made one final push, responding with a 7-0 run that brought the Bucks back within two possessions.
Two offensive rebounds on Phoenix’s next possession ultimately landed the ball in the steady hands of Paul, who drilled a 3-pointer to make it a nine-point game. Milwaukee never again climbed within eight.
Phoenix made a franchise playoff record 20 3-pointers on 40 attempts, as six of The Suns made multiple triples, led by Booker’s seven, Mikal Bridges added 27 points, DeAndre Ayton got 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Jae Crowder’s 11 points and 10 rebounds weighed in, as they both logged triple-doubles to help collectively counter Antetokounmpo.
Holiday dialed up his much-needed aggression at the start, attacking the basket and accepting Paul as his defensive assignment. The Bucks outscored Phoenix 20-0 in the paint in the first quarter.
Milwaukee committed no fouls and just one turnover in the opening frame, as The Bucks gave basketball at its best, but The Suns only trailed 29-26, because five of them combined to make eight 3-pointers in the first 12 minutes.
They added three more in a 30-point second quarter that turned the tide. Seven Suns scored in the stanza, and Mikal Bridges led them with 13 points in a half they led 56-45. The Bucks shot 36% entering the break.
‘The Greek Freak’ dominated the third, scoring 20 of his team’s 33 points — his most in a single quarter in his playoff career — and assisted on six more, but Milwaukee gained little ground, as Phoenix got 22 points combined from Booker and Paul in the frame on 9-for-14 shooting (4 for 5 from 3-point distance).
Antetokounmpo’s 20-point quarter is the first in the Finals since Michael Jordan hit that mark in 1993, but he will now aim for a better ending for the team in Game 3, which is scheduled for Sunday at 8pm ET.
