Sports News
Giannis’ 42 Points Not Enough for Bucks in Game Two Loss to Suns
NBA Finals – Game 2:
Phoenix 118, Milwaukee 108
–Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 42 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for the Bucks as they fell to the Suns in Phoenix in game two of the NBA Finals Thursday night.
The Bucks led 29-26 after the first quarter, but were outscored 30-16 in the second quarter to trail at halftime by 11 points. Giannis came alive in the third quarter – scoring 20 of his 42 points on the night in the frame – the most points scored in an NBA Finals quarter since 1993, when Michael Jordan scored 22.
Much like game one on Tuesday, the Bucks cut the lead down to single digits a handful of times in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t pull in front.
Milwaukee trailed by only five points (93-88) with 8:45 left, but an 8-0 run by the Suns pushed the lead back out to 13 with 7:16 to play.
The Bucks would then get the lead down to six points (103-97) with just over five minutes to play, but again the Suns would again answer and close out the victory.
Jrue Holiday added 17 points and seven assists in the loss, with Pat Connaughton adding 14 points off the bench.
Devin Booker was red-hot for the Suns in game two – scoring 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting, including seven three-pointers. Mikal Bridges added 27, with Chris Paul scoring 23. Phoenix as a team shot 48.9 percent from the floor and 50 percent (20-40) from three point range.
The series now heads to Milwaukee with the Suns holding a two-games-to-none lead. The Bucks are hoping the home court advantage will help them get back into the series, much like it did against Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Game Three is Sunday night, with tipoff at 7 PM, Game Four is Wednesday night.