The Milwaukee Bucks have become the league’s first team to clinch a playoff berth this season after storming home to dispatch of the Suns 116-104 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
The Bucks improved to 50-19 on the year with the win and are now three games clear of the Celtics for the league’s best record and subsequent one-seed in the East.
Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a dominant 36 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists as calls for his MVP candidacy continue to grow louder.
Phoenix had a hellish time at guarding Antetokounmpo without fouling as the seven-time All-Star finishing shooting a total of 24 free throws – which tied a career-high – in 35 minutes.
Brook Lopez continued his sensational campaign finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds and making all nine of his two-point attempts whilst midseason acquisition Jae Crowder added 11 points and five rebounds on 3-of-4 from three off the bench.
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All-Star guard Jrue Holiday had a less-than-efficient night at the office finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 4-of-14 from the field and 0-of-5 from three but was a team high +20.
The Bucks got off to a strong start before their lead ballooned out to 16 midway through the second quarter only for it to evaporate early in the fourth.
Down 95-92 with 8:47 left, Milwaukee rallied to poke their noses back in front thanks to threes courtesy of supporting cast members Jevon Carter and Pat Connaughton.
Antetokounmpo shot just 1-of-6 in the final frame but hit on six of his 10 free throws to spark a game-clinching 24-9 run to end it.
Milwaukee won the rebounding battle and shot a higher percentage from the field in the 2021 NBA Finals rematch.
Phoenix found more success in transition but were unable to contain Milwaukee at the rim allowing 54 paint points compared to just 36 of their own and 37 free throw attempts compared to just 16.
Devin Booker led the way for the Suns finishing with 30 points on 13-of-27 shooting whilst Deandre Ayton had 16 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-19 from the floor.
Chris Paul added 11 points, four rebounds, and eight assists whilst Josh Okogie had eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
On a night in which the team’s two leading shot-takers struggled from the floor, backup big Jock Landale put up 12 points and two assists on 5-of-6 shooting in just 14 minutes of play.
Milwaukee are in Indiana on Friday and will look to keep their hold on the league’s best record intact throughout the home stretch whilst Phoenix will be in Orlando as they aim to keep the approaching Warriors and Clippers at bay to hang on to the West’s four-seed.
