The same story, with a different protagonist. LThe Bucks have beaten the Suns in a match with the aroma of the playoffs and even the Finals, for being the last protagonists of the East and the West respectively. A clash full of tension, emotion, alternatives and differences in leadership that ended with the victory of Mike Budenholzer’s team, which this time did not have a titanic performance by Giannis Antetoklunmpo and did have a masterful performance, one of the best of his career, by Chris Middleton. The other great hero who sentenced in that sixth game of the Finals and gave the Bucks their first ring in 50 years. And the second in total. Almost nothing.
Middleton has finished with 44 points (16 of 27 shooting from the field), 8 rebounds and 5 assists. The +21 on track has been more objective than statistical, and his way of sentencing the meeting has escaped academicism to join and merge with the enormous. 16 points in the last quarter with 6 of 10 in field goals, 2 of 3 in triples and a management of resources and of the time of the match simply perfect and that has definitely tipped the scales on Bucks that have been behind for a long time in a game that, yes, has had 19 alternatives on the scoreboard and 12 draws.
The maximum difference of each team has been just 10 goals in a close confrontation and full of possibilities. Giannis, less brilliant than usual, suffered against an incredible DeAndre Ayton (30 points, with 14 of 19 shooting from the field, and 8 rebounds) and he had 19 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists in 31 minutes, a figure that was greatly affected by the accumulation of fouls: he finished with 6 and was expelled after being restricted by them for many minutes, and watched from the bench as Middleton sentenced a very funny game from the spectator’s point of viewand very suffered, surely, if we talk to the protagonists.
The thing did not stop there: Jrue Holiday was key in defense and went to 27 points, 9 assists and 4 steals. And Bobby Portis, with all his heart, did not have the best version of him this time and stayed at 9 + 6, a low production for his 32 minutes on the court. The one who was masterful was Serge Ibaka, who got a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in just over 21 minutes of play, the leader of the bench along with Jordan Nwora, who scored 12 points. And in the Suns, the entire starting lineup above ten points and a great need for the return of the weapon that will be, except for surprise, in the playoffs: Chris Paul. Since the point guard is down, 3-3. Of course, his importance is paramount. Of that, of course, no one doubts. I refer to the tests.
