MILWAUKEE. – Game 4 of the NBA finals became a pendulum event in the best-of-seven series when the Milwaukee Bucks buried the Phoenix Suns in a 20-point rout in Game 3 Sunday (Monday in Manila).
The 120-100 victory set up the opportunity for the Bucks to even the series 2-all on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila) and sent the Suns searching for answers to critical concerns that arose in Game 3.
“They took it to us. No other way to look at it,” Suns coach Monty Williams said of his takeaway from reviewing the game film preparing for Game 4.
“When we get five guys back (on defense) along with attacking the offensive glass, I know we’re playing with force. Both ends, just the relentless sprinting, getting to the corners on offense and building the wall (on defense). When we do it, we give our self a chance to be successful.”
After scoring 118 points to win games 1 and 2, the Suns were overwhelmed in the second quarter of Game 3 and couldn’t find their footing. They also had no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I have to do better,” Williams said. “Our players get in line with that. Across the board, we have to have a better understanding of the type of team we’re going to play from here on out.”
Antetokounmpo continues to take treatment for a hyperextended left knee, but the Suns wouldn’t know he’s hurting.
“We’re going to keep trying to build a wall. He’s coming full speed every play, downhill like a running back,” Suns guard Chris Paul said.
Antetokounmpo scored 20 points in Game 1, his first game in a week due to the knee injury incurred in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks. Since then, the 26-year-old flipped to bulldog mode. He turned in back-to-back 40-point games (83 total), the first to do so in the finals since LeBron James. Only Michael Jordan, with four consecutive 40-plus point efforts in the Finals, has sustained a higher level of scoring production.
