Phoenix (2-3) at Milwaukee (3-2)
When: Tuesday, July 20th, 2021
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -5/223
In a series that seems like its taken a month to play, the Milwaukee Bucks could secure their first NBA Championship since 1971 with a win over the Phoenix Suns. Game 6 of the NBA Finals tips off at 9:05 ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and a potential Game 7 would be back in Phoenix on Thursday night. The home team had won and covered the spread in each of the first four games until the Bucks pulled off an exciting 123-113 in Phoenix on Saturday as Milwaukee’s top three scorers had big games. In what was easily the highest-scoring game of the series, the Phoenix Suns came up short despite hitting 55.2 percent of their shots and a sizzling 13-of-19 from 3-point land. Milwaukee was just a little better at 57.5 percent from the field and 14-of-28 from beyond the arc. The Bucks overcame an early 16-point deficit by erupting for 43 points in the second quarter. Milwaukee became the second team in NBA Finals history to lead at halftime after trailing by as many as 15 points after the first quarter. The Suns, who were the best road team in the regular season, will be 5-point underdogs in this one with a total set at 222.
The Suns won Games 1 and 2 by double-digits at home, but have not been able to sustain that momentum. They shot 73.7 percent in the first quarter Saturday before the Bucks took over. Devin Booker finished with 40 points – his second straight game with at least 40 and is the first Suns player ever with back-to-back 40-point games in the postseason. Booker is averaging 30.0 points on 47.1 percent shooting from the field in the series. Chris Paul struggled bad in Games 3 and 4 in Milwaukee with turnovers, but recorded 21 points, 11 assists and only one turnover in Game 5. Phoenix has not lost four games in a row all season and are 20-8 ATS in their past 28 following an ATS loss.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the overwhelming favorite to win Finals MVP should the Bucks go on and win the series. On Saturday, he poured in 32 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists. It was his 13th straight playoff game shooting at least 50 percent from the field, tying Shaquille O’Neal in 2006 for the longest such streak in the shot-clock era. Both Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday stepped up in Phoenix on Saturday. Middleton had 29 points on 12-for-23 shooting and Holiday contributed 27 points and 13 assists. Holiday also had the game-clinching steal in the final seconds. The only other double-digit scorer was Pat Connaughton off the bench with 14 points.
Milwaukee finally ‘bucked’ the trend of home teams winning and covering in Game 5, but can they do it again? The Suns haven’t lost four games all season and they were the best road team in the league. Chris Paul won’t let his team down tonight. Phoenix at least keeps this game close.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for today.
Pick: Suns +5
