Sunday, Jul 18, 2021. 6:06 PM
The Phoenix Suns no longer have the right to make mistakes.
The Milwaukee Bucks won 123-119 in Game 5 on Saturday and are now just one title win away. They could be crowned champions in front of their supporters on Tuesday night.
It was the Suns’ third straight loss in this final series. Three in a row, it was only once in the regular season, in January.
It is all the more difficult to digest since they had built a lead of 16 points, before trailing themselves by 14 in the fourth quarter. They also missed a great opportunity to regain the lead in the last minute of play.
Head coach Monty Williams did not go through four paths after the loss.
“We only need a victory to force them to take the plane back to our country. That’s all. It takes determination, to do everything possible, ”he simply said.
After a 42-point performance in Game 4, Devin Booker continued with 40 yesterday. He became the first player in history to suffer two consecutive losses in the final after accumulating at least 40 points in each of them. But a failed game made the difference, he who had the ball stolen by Jrue Holiday in the dying seconds of the game. The Bucks then took advantage of this golden opportunity.
“It was a great game from Jrue. I don’t know what to say other than that, ”said Williams.
Then Deandre Ayton missed a rebound and the Bucks put the game out of reach.
Now, with at most two games to go, will the Suns remember this 2021 final as a missed opportunity in the years to come?
“We have to pull ourselves together and learn from this game. It is finished. We have to focus on Game 6, ”insists Chris Paul.
The Suns are trailing in a series for just the second time in the playoffs. They trailed 2-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round before winning nine in a row.
Will they extend the suspense Tuesday to keep alive the hope of winning a first title in the 53-year history of the organization, or will they experience a disappointment when they see the Bucks celebrate at home instead?
