NBA: The Bucks rise at the end of the game and tie the final 2-2 against the Suns

SUMMARY

MILWAUKEE – Khris Middleton had 40 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo countered against Deandre Ayton in a thrilling game on Wednesday as the Milwaukee Bucks leveled the NBA Finals at 2-2 with a victory 109 -103 against the Phoenix Suns.

Middleton had eight straight points when his team were 99-97 behind – three baskets, then two free throws.

There were 20 seconds to go after the streak. Devin Booker responded with the last two of his 42 points, but the Bucks stayed the course.

Antetokounmpo provided 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocks.

Phoenix seemed to have caught the game by the right end at the start of the fourth quarter, taking a nine-point lead (85-76) on a three-point shot from Cameron Johnson.

But Booker’s fifth fault, forced to return to the bench when he was untouchable until then (38 points at this time including 18 in the 3rd quarter), revived Milwaukee.

In style, with a remarkable offensive distribution, the Bucks came back to height three minutes from the end of regulation time, before carrying the blow during the last seconds.

In what is arguably the turning point of the game, Middleton then gave Milwaukee a 101-99 lead with 1:30 to go before seeing Antetokounmpo block an alley-oop attempt at Ayton on the other end of the ground.

The Suns had led the vast majority of the meeting so far.

Milwaukee thus signed a second win in a row in the vibrant ‘Deer District’. Once the outcome was roughly sealed, the crowd chanted ‘Bucks in six’, hoping to see theirs lift the trophy on July 20, when the series returns to the Fiserv Forum.

Before that, there will be Game 5 on Saturday, in Phoenix.

Chris Paul was the cause of five turnovers and had to settle for 10 points – Booker’s contribution in the previous game. Jae Crowder had a strong game with 15 points, three steals and three blocks. Ayton only got six points, although he grabbed 17 rebounds.

At the Bucks, Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday added 14 and 13 points, even though they were both 0 in 5 from long distances. Pat Connaughton had his own with 11 points, including three three-pointers in seven attempts.

In the crowd were among others Dave Chappelle, Chris Tucker, Alex Rodriguez, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson.

In their part of the country, the Suns were notably supported by 15,000 people at Chase Field.